At least three dead after record rains hit Auckland

At least three dead after record rains hit Auckland

In Auckland, many people died due to the torrential rain. Photo: dpa/Dean Purcell


At least three people have died in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, after torrential rains and flash floods.

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Authorities say at least three people have died after torrential rains hit Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. On Saturday, police said another person was still missing.

New Zealand’s new Prime Minister Chris Hepkins headed to the North Island city on Saturday. He said his top priority was keeping the capital’s 1.6 million residents safe. Parts of Auckland International Airport, New Zealand’s largest airport, were also flooded. The airport announced that no international flights would take off until at least Sunday.

The authorities declare a state of emergency

Authorities spoke of the “wetter day” since recording began and the declaration of a state of emergency. The city government warned on Saturday that it could continue to rain through the weekend.

Large parts of the capital were still under water on Saturday. Police said the three dead were found independently of each other. So one of the victims was in a flooded parking garage. Another died when a landslide hit a house.

Fire brigade moving with kayaks and jet skis

In some areas of the city, 80 percent of the rain measured all summer fell within 15 hours, the National Research Institute NIWA said. The suburbs of Comio and Albany were hit hard.

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The fire brigade was already working on Friday with canoes and jet skis to rescue people from their homes.

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