Cyclone Gabrielle causes chaos in Auckland, two weeks after record-breaking storm
Date
2/15/2023 2:08:53 AM
(MENAFN) Residents of Auckland in New Zealand were bracing themselves for the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on Monday, just two weeks after a record-breaking storm caused chaos in the city and claimed four lives. In anticipation of the storm, authorities asked people to make only essential trips, most schools and libraries were closed, and train services were cancelled, causing much of the city to come to a standstill. Air New Zealand also cancelled all domestic flights to and from Auckland until Tuesday morning, as well as many international flights.
Although the cyclone was downgraded as it approached on Sunday, it had already caused significant damage, toppling trees, damaging roads, and downing power lines. Before reaching Auckland, the cyclone had already dumped over 220mm of rain in areas north of the city, cutting power to around 58,000 households and forcing many roads to close. As of Monday afternoon, around 46,000 homes remained without power.
In response to the impact of the cyclone, authorities declared a state of emergency in Northland, Auckland, and some other regions. Some residents in low-lying areas were asked to evacuate. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins urged people to stay inside if possible and warned that the situation was likely to get worse before it gets better. The government also announced an aid package of USD7.25 million to help recovery efforts.
According to weather forecaster MetService, Cyclone Gabrielle is a significant weather event, with heavy rain and damaging winds affecting many parts of northern and central New Zealand. Additionally, large waves, storm surges, and coastal inundation are affecting exposed eastern coasts of the North Island. The cyclone was expected to pass over Auckland overnight, with its wind speed downgraded to around 130kph.
Just two weeks ago, Auckland experienced the wettest day ever recorded in the city of 1.6 million people, with as much rain falling over 24 hours as would typically fall over an entire summer. The previous storm caused widespread flooding, landslides, and power outages, and claimed four lives. While the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle is not expected to be as severe, it has caused significant disruption and damage to the region.
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