Rainfall Deluges New Zealand’s North Island, Death Toll Rises to Four

The rain-soaked north island of New Zealand continued to bear the brunt of heavy rainfall, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The death toll rose to four after a person who had been missing since Friday was confirmed dead. The individual was swept away by the floodwaters in Onewhero, a rural village about 70 kilometers south of Auckland, and was later discovered deceased.

As the nation grappled with the aftermath of the flood, Auckland, the country’s largest city, remained under a state of emergency on Sunday. The city’s residents had been battling the relentless rain since Friday, and the authorities warned of even more severe weather on Sunday and Monday. Intense rainfall was expected to cause surface and flash flooding, posing a threat to the already battered city.

Meanwhile, the focus of the emergency had shifted south, with Waitomo District declaring a state of emergency late on Saturday. The district is located about 220 kilometers from Auckland and had also been affected by the deluge.

New Zealand’s climate change minister, James Shaw, noted the link between the extreme weather events and climate change. “The most horrific part of it is that we’ve lost lives,” said deputy prime minister Carmel Sepuloni, as she addressed reporters in Auckland.

The aftermath of the flood saw thousands of properties without power, and hundreds without access to clean drinking water. Air New Zealand’s international flights in and out of Auckland were suspended, but the airline announced that they would resume operations from noon on Sunday.

On Saturday, prime minister Chris Hipkins flew by helicopter over Auckland before touring flood-hit homes. He described the flood impact as “unprecedented” in recent memory. The flooding had caused numerous slips, flooding, and damage to roads, with police assisting with traffic management and road closures in the affected region.

The Bay of Plenty was also reeling from the impact of the flood, with widespread flooding reported and a landslide that had knocked down a house and threatened neighboring properties. The region was still reeling from the disaster, with the authorities working tirelessly to restore power and water supplies to affected areas.

As the nation struggled to come to terms with the devastating impact of the flood, the authorities were working to provide aid to those affected. The death toll continued to rise, and the full extent of the damage was still being assessed.