Status: 01/27/2023 12:02 pm
Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is largely flooded. In a very short time, it rained almost as much as it had in an entire summer. The city declared a state of emergency.
After heavy rains in New Zealand’s midsummer, much of Auckland is under water. The city declared an official state of emergency and warned of further flooding. Citizens of the metropolis with 1.6 million inhabitants must stay safe, demanded civil protection.
The National Research Institute NIWA said that in some areas of the city, 80% of the precipitation that is measured throughout the summer fell within 15 hours. The suburbs of Kumeu and Albany were particularly hard hit.
More than 1000 emergency calls
Videos show waist-deep flooding in some places. Authorities advised residents in areas that could be flooded to prepare for evacuations. The fire department is also on duty with kayaks and jet skis to rescue people from their homes.
New Zealand emergency services received over 1,000 emergency calls. Among the numerous emergency calls, some had their homes flooded. The agency urged citizens to keep lines free for calls in imminent danger.
Several roads had to be closed due to the floods. There was a power outage in parts of Auckland. The city’s airport is closed due to flooding. Domestic and international flights were suspended. Some of the airport terminals are knee-deep in water, as photos on social media show.
Elton John concert canceled
A concert planned by Elton John was canceled due to flooding. More than 40,000 people bought tickets for the event. Thousands were already there when organizers canceled at short notice. Many spectators were frustrated that the decision was not made hours earlier.
Green Party politician Golriz Ghahraman tweeted that the scenes unfolding in the flooded areas were “terrifying” and stressed: “This is what we will see again and again around the world because of the climate crisis until we see this in politics and take our actions seriously.”
The biggest problem now, however, is that the rain won’t stop, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said in an interview with Radio New Zealand.