Floods in New Zealand Sweep Through North Island and Cut Electricity
Wide areas of North Island have turned into waterlogged pools after a day of severe flooding that hit the region, causing power outages, road collapses, and evacuations of homes.
The meteorological authority warned of a life-threatening situation due to the dangerous state of rivers, floods, and landslides, confirming that an increasing low-pressure system east of North Island has caused heavy rainfall and severe storms across the area.
It noted that the peak of the severe weather will reach its height late on Sunday, before a slow improvement begins on Monday.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in the Waipa and Otorohanga regions, which are agricultural areas home to about 10,000 people and located 180 kilometers south of Auckland, the most populous city in the country.
Authorities reported that a man lost his life after floodwaters engulfed his car on the highway last Saturday, while around 80 people were evacuated to emergency centers.
Images shared on social media showed vast areas of semi-rural regions submerged in water, with large sections of roads collapsing after floodwaters receded, reflecting the scale of the disaster that has swept through the north of the country.
