Cyclone Gabrielle Impacts New Zealand With Floods and Landslides, Three Dead, and 300 Rescued till Now

Cyclone Gabrielle causes extensive landslides and flooding in New Zealand, claiming three lives, and displacing thousands of people from their homes.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: February 15, 2023

On Tuesday, more than 300 people were rescued from the North Island’s east coast. The bay area is flooded already. According to Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty, 60 are stranded on one roof. On Wednesday the authorities said that three bodies have been recovered. Though the worst of the storm could have passed, the danger still lingers. MetService said that central New Zealand can see more heavy rain with high waves on the east coast.

This is the third national emergency declared in New Zealand so far, which has led to panic among people with terrifying visuals of cyclone-affected New Zealands circulating on Twitter. Final rescues are underway. Around 11 army trucks reached Hastings Sports Centres, Hawke's Bay. Because of the damage from floodwater from Cyclone Gabrielle, 9000 people are displaced and still counting. Residents from the affected regions have been asked to conserve food and water because shortages may result in these sources.

A national state of emergency was declared in New Zealand after Cyclone Gabrielle ripped the areas apart. On Wednesday, the cycle passes New Zealand, and the authorities are expecting some relaxation. They are assessing the impact of landslides, floods, and high winds. A state of emergency has been declared for Hauraki district, Northland, Bay of Plenty Region, Whakatane, Auckland, Opotiki, Tairawhiti, Waikato Region, Waikato district, Hastings District, Thames-Coromandel, and Napier City.

Helicopters are being used to rescue people from rooftops and take them to safety. As per McAnulty, military places are also in use for the delivery of essential supplies to the impacted areas and isolated towns. Several regions are dealing with power cuts as well. Airport services have been resumed at Air New Zealand on Wednesday, including that for Gisborne, Napier, and New Plymouth after the storm caused the cancellation of 821 flights affecting 49,000 customers.