Cyclone Gabrielle’s Fury Ravages New Zealand’s North Island

The aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle continued to unfold in New Zealand’s North Island, with the death toll rising to nine on Saturday. The storm made landfall on Sunday, sweeping across the uppermost region and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. As authorities struggled to reach affected communities, they were faced with the daunting task of accounting for hundreds of people who had lost contact with friends and family.

Police investigations were ongoing, including a possible cyclone-related death in the Hawke’s Bay region, which would take the total tally to nine. The navy had dispatched a ship carrying 26 tonnes of supplies to the affected area, while the air force was flying in helicopter loads of food and water to the stranded village of Tutira.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called the disaster the biggest natural calamity to hit New Zealand this century, warning that the death toll was likely to rise as rescue crews made contact with hundreds of isolated communities. “The response to this crisis is still underway, and there are people across the North Island working around the clock,” Hipkins said.

As the clean-up efforts continued, authorities were grappling with the vast scale of the damage. Almost 5,000 people had registered with police as being out of touch with friends or family since the cyclone struck, while 885 had managed to make contact and let loved ones know they were safe. There were grave concerns for the safety of around 10 individuals who remained unaccounted for.

The region’s infrastructure had also been severely impacted, with almost 62,000 households nationwide without power. Hawke’s Bay, which bore the brunt of the storm, was particularly hard hit, with around 40,000 households affected, out of a population of about 170,000. The New Zealand Herald reported that nearly 2,000 people were sheltering in evacuation centers in Hawke’s Bay, while up to 1,000 others were beyond the reach of emergency services.

“We have our work cut out for us,” said Ben Green, civil defence group controller at Tairawhiti Gisborne, north of Hawke’s Bay. “We’re focused on securing a reliable water supply, reaching isolated people, and re-establishing phone and internet connections.”

As the people of New Zealand struggled to come to terms with the devastation, authorities were working tirelessly to restore order and rebuild the communities affected by the cyclone.