New Delhi: At least four people were killed, and roads and houses were flooded as torrential rains continued to lash Auckland city in New Zealand on Wednesday, news agency AFP reported.
According to the report, a state of emergency is in place in Auckland and Northland as the city was ravaged by flood and landslides amid record downpour this year.
As per the weather office, the city witnessed more than a month of rain in 24 hours, resulting in roads and rail lines being shut, houses flooded again and trees blown over.
VIDEO: Streets in Auckland are flooded as torrential rains devastates the New Zealand city, killing at least four people. Last week the country’s largest city saw 249 millimetres of rainfall on Friday, smashing the previous record of 161mm in a 24-hour period. pic.twitter.com/sEdykVhKSh
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 1, 2023
Weather forecaster Metservice said that the heaviest showers have now passed through Northland and Auckland, although Auckland remains at a risk of a heavy shower or two.
Rachel Kelleher, Auckland emergency management deputy controller, said that the likelihood of more flooding is lower, but the water-logged ground meant danger from landslides and falling trees, news agency Reuters reported. “This has been an unprecedented event,” she said.
Meanwhile, residents in the vulnerable areas had been told to prepare to evacuate if needed.
In the wake of heavy rains, physical attendance at the Auckland schools had already been suspended last week until 7 February, in anticipation of further bad weather, and the need to keep roads clear to repair critical infrastructure. However, early childcare centres are now allowed to open.
“Our job is to look after people, help people recover,” Reuters quoted Finance Minister Grant Roberston as saying.
“Climate change is real, it’s with us. We are going to have to deal with more of these extreme weather events in the near future; we need to be prepared for that and we need to do everything we can to combat the challenges of climate change,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told BBC.