The extreme weather has impacted regions all over the North Island and will see the National State of Emergency in place for seven days.
Two people are confirmed to have died in Hawkes Bay, and the search for the missing firefighter continues in Muriwai today. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins labelled the cyclone as the ‘most severe weather event this century.’
Power outages have affected 225,000 people over the last few days, and 2,500 families have been displaced. Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Northland, the Waikato, Coromandel and Auckland are all facing serious levels of destruction.
The severe weather is supposed to ease for the hard-hit areas as the cyclone moves Southeast.
National Emergency Advice:
- Put safety first
- Do not enter floodwaters
- Throw away any food or drinks that have been in contact with floodwater
- Stay away from downed power lines
- If you have evacuated, do not return home until you have been told it is safe to do so
- Stay up to date with the Metservice Forecast and advice from emergency services/civil defence
