The New Zealand government declared a state of emergency in Wellington, the nation's capital, after severe storms brought heavy rain and flash floods across the North Island, causing widespread damage including landslides that blocked transportation routes and affected residential areas.
Andrew Little, the Mayor of Wellington, revealed that the capital received 77 millimeters of rain in less than one hour on Monday, marking the heaviest rainfall ever recorded. The immense water pressure caused storm drains to break loose, and the floodwaters were strong enough to carry vehicles downstream.
Rescue and firefighting teams received over 150 emergency calls throughout the night. Landslides were reported to have buried homes in the Kingston and Mornington districts. Meanwhile, police are intensively searching for a 60-year-old man missing in the Karori area after his house was flooded. However, there have been no confirmed fatalities so far.
Authorities ordered evacuations of residents in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to stay with relatives or at temporary shelters for at least 24 hours. They also advised against non-essential travel due to forecasts of worsening weather conditions on Monday evening local time.
Meanwhile, some flights at Wellington Airport were canceled, and several schools temporarily closed. Officials urged residents to make evacuation decisions early before the situation deteriorates further.
This flood event occurred just days after New Zealand's North Island was affected by Cyclone "Wainu" over the past weekend, which had saturated the soil and increased the risk of landslides when faced with repeated heavy rain.
Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and Rebuilding, stated that the government is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to provide full support and resources to assist the public. He emphasized that Wellington residents should stay informed calmly and prepare for the arrival of another low-pressure system.