New Zealand - State of Emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle Triggers Floods and Landslides

The Government in New Zealand has declared a National State of Emergency in response to Cyclone Gabrielle. The declaration will apply to the regions of Northland, Auckland, Tairāwhiti (Gisborne), Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawke's Bay and Tararua District.

© Waikato Regional CouncilFloods in Waikato Region, New Zealand after Cyclone Gabrielle, February 2023

Cyclone Gabrielle brought strong winds with gusts of up to 127 km/h, rough seas, storm surge and heavy rain from 12 February 2023. Raparapaririki in Gisborne recorded 568 mm of rain in 48 hours to 14 February.

The Minister for Emergency Management, Kieran McAnulty, said, "This is an unprecedented weather event that is having major impacts across much of the North Island.

"The emergency order enables the government to streamline its response to the disaster. It has been applied to the Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Tararua, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawke's Bay regions."

New Zealand has only previously declared a national state of emergency on two other occasions - during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Areas of the North Island are still recovering from devastating flooding following record heavy rainfall in late January.

New Zealand's cyclone death toll rises to 11 as thousands remain missing

The death toll from New Zealand's cyclone reached 11 on Sunday as thousands of people remained missing after the nation's most destructive weather event in decades.

Cyclone Gabrielle struck the country's north on Monday, bringing widespread flooding, landslides and power cuts, and the level of damage has been compared to Cyclone Bola in 1988. That storm was the most destructive on record to hit the nation of five million people.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the storm is New Zealand's biggest natural disaster this century. He said more fatalities are possible with 6,431 people still missing.

Lives had been "turned upside down" and recovery is a "steep mountain ahead", he said, pointing to disrupted telecommunications, shortages of fresh water and damaged roads still restricting access to some areas.

At least 28,000 homes are still without power, he added.

"The true extent of the devastation and loss become clearer with every passing day," the prime minister said.

The nation has received at least 12 offers of international aid and a team from Fiji is travelling to New Zealand over the coming days to assist with the recovery.

Twenty-seven emergency workers from Australia are currently assisting with the relief effort.

Recovery efforts continued on Sunday, with teams from Auckland Council carrying out rapid building assessments on damaged homes in the coastal areas of Muriwai and Piha, about 60 km (40 miles) west of the nation's largest city, Auckland.

Emergency authorities and the military have dropped critical supplies via helicopter to those left stranded by the cyclone, which washed away farms, bridges and livestock and inundated homes.

Police have sent an extra 100 officers to Hawke's Bay and nearby Tairawhiti amid reports of looting in some areas.

"The police are working to maintain law and order," Mr Hipkins said.

Mozambique - 6 Dead as Floods Worsen in Maputo Province

The flood situation has worsened in the city of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, and the surrounding province of Maputo, according to an updated report from the National Institute for Management and Reduction of Disaster Risk (INGD) of Mozambique.

© INGDFloods and torrential rain damaged homes in Maputo, Mozambique, February 2023.

As of 12 February, INGD reported 6 people have now lost their lives as a result of flooding and heavy rain in the region since 08 February. Two people have been seriously injured and 3 people reported missing.

According to figures from the World Meteorological Organization, over 400 mm of rain was recorded at the weather station in Mavalane in Maputo, in a 24-hour period to 08 February 2023. Since then heavy flows from flooded rivers upstream in South Africa and Eswatini have made their way into the Maputo, Incomati and Umbelúzi river systems in areas of Maputo province. Authorities began releases from the Pequenos Libombos dam after it reached capacity.

INGD reported a total of 36,700 people have now been affected by flooding, including over 16,000 in Maputo City and over 14,000 in Maputo Province.

Around 7,300 homes, 15 schools and 15 health centres have been damaged. INGD opened 10 emergency accommodation centres in Maputo, Boane, Namaacha and Matola. As of 12 February the centres were housing around 13,700 people.

INGD said it is providing assistance to the victims, guaranteeing food and non-food goods, in addition to providing health services.

The Provincial Delegation of the National Roads Administration (DPANE) reported that several important roads were impassable in areas near Matola, Boane, Goba, Catuane and Moamba.