New Zealand’s government has declared a state of emergency for the third time in history due to Cyclone Gabriel, which caused floods and landslides, Reuters reports. Many people are without power, roads are closed and some towns are completely cut off in the North Island.

Kieran McAnulty, the minister for emergency management, said on Tuesday that the extensive damage caused by this cyclone meant that a national declaration was needed to support those affected.

“This is an unprecedented weather event that has had a major impact on much of the North Island,” McAnulty said.

A state of emergency has been declared in the country for the third time in history

A national emergency has only been declared twice – after the 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch in 2011 and in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gabrielle was 100 km northeast of Auckland, over several small islands, but was now moving southwest.

The cyclone brought heavy rain, flooding and strong winds to the North Island and forced the evacuation of many coastal communities. Evacuation centers have been established on the North Island. Many people are without power, roads are closed, and some cities are completely without power.

Local media broadcast images of people standing on roofs of houses surrounded by water, houses washed away by landslides and roads under water.

New Zealand emergency services have confirmed a volunteer firefighter is trapped in a house after a landslide in a beach town near Auckland. The second firefighter was rescued, he is in a serious condition in the hospital.

A New Zealand Navy vessel is on its way to a yacht that activated a distress beacon this morning off the country’s east coast.

“This was and continues to be a major and important event for our region,” said Rachel Kelleher of Oakland Emergency Management.

“Be informed and watch out for each other,” she said

PHOTO by Brian Scantlebury|Dreamstime.com