Some 9,000 are displaced in the country’s most damaging storm in decades
“It is a significant event, it is on a scale of what we’ve seen with the Christchurch earthquake,” New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins told a news conference.New Zealand has received multiple offers of help from other countries and 25 disaster specialists from Australia will arrive within the next two days, added Mr Hipkins.
He said the inability for people to get in touch with family and friends was a real issue and the government was working on immediately increasing connectivity.Parts of New Zealand’s North Island, where about 75 per cent of the country’s five million residents live, are enduring their second major storm in as many weeks. Record rains last month triggered flash floods in Auckland and four people lost lives then.
Authorities estimate more than 9,000 people have been displaced so far, with around 3,000 housed in temporary shelters. Analysts and economist say it is too early to estimate the cost of the rebuild but it will likely be billions of dollars. New Zealand finance minister Grant Robertson said in a statement the country was financially able to meet the costs of a rebuild. – Reuters
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Zealand emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle wreaks havocNew Zealand has declared a national state of emergency for only the third time in its history as Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread flooding, landslides and huge ocean swells, forcing evacuations and stranding people on roof tops.
Read more »
Cyclone Gabrielle: child among four dead in New Zealand as 1,400 missingSevere storms leave more than 10,000 displaced and cause widespread damage
Read more »
Four people killed and more than 10,000 displaced after cyclone hits New ZealandAuthorities announced a national state of emergency yesterday for only the third time in the country’s history.
Read more »
Ireland will be happy to be in Marbella as World Cup playoffs get underway in New ZealandThe 10 sides have been preparing as Cyclone Gabrielle has caused a national state of emergency
Read more »
People rescued from rooftops as NZ cyclone kills fourMilitary helicopters winched stranded storm survivors to safety in New Zealand, after Cyclone Gabrielle killed four people and displaced 10,500 more.
Read more »
The 8 at 8: WednesdayTax breaks for landlords, New Zealand shaken by storm, and low wages for retail workers.
Read more »