State of emergency declared today New Zealanddue to Cyclone Gabriel, which hit the island nation.

This is only the third time in history that New Zealand has declared a state of emergency.

Emergency Minister Kiran Makanulty said the cyclone’s devastating impact required a concerted effort by the authorities to support those affected. “This is an unprecedented weather event that is having a significant impact on much of the North Island,” McEnalty said.

New Zealand has declared a state of emergency twice, once in 2011 due to a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Christchurch, and the second at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The center of the cyclone is currently located 100 km northeast of Auckland, heading southwest. MetService estimates that rain will gradually ease in Oakland, but will continue to affect areas further south.

Video —–> https://t.co/Z4iS6L00l4
⚡📣🆘 So the roofs come off the houses! Evacuation in New Zealand! Cyclone Gabriel!📣⚡#New Zealand #cyclonagabriel #Auckland #waikato #coromandel #floods #tsunami #cyclone #storm #Hurricane #weather #News pic.twitter.com/FA199vgk66

— DISASTERS IN THE WORLD (@WRLD_disasters) February 13, 2023

Tens of thousands of homes were left without electricity

Brought in by gale-force winds and heavy rain, Gabriel caused widespread flooding in New Zealand’s North Island and forced authorities to evacuate coastal communities. Tens of thousands of households were left without electricity, traffic was disrupted on several roads, and some sections were cut off.

The images that have emerged show residents taking shelter on the roofs of flooded buildings, as well as on landslides that have hit settlements.

The fire department said one volunteer firefighter was trapped in a house swept away by a landslide near Oakland, while a second firefighter was rescued and is in critical condition.

A Navy ship rushed to the aid of a yacht that had given a distress signal off the east coast of the country.

“This has been and continues to be a major (weather) event for our area,” said Rachel Kelleher, a spokeswoman for the Oakland Emergency Management Agency, urging residents to wait for further guidance from authorities.

^{According to the New Zealand Herald, APE-BPE}