A state of emergency has been declared in Whanganui and a cliff has collapsed onto an apartment block in Auckland’s Kohimarama as the tail of Cyclone Debbie hits New Zealand.
New Zealand has been hit by torrential rain overnight, and a heavy rainfall warning is in place for the entire North Island and the north and west of the South Island.
NIWA told RNZ the “tropical torrent” could bring two to three times the amount of normal rainfall for the entire month of April in just a couple of days.
Up to 500 people have been evacuated from their homes in the low-lying areas of Whanganui and Ranitikei as the Whanganui River level rises. All schools and early childhood centres in the area are closed today.
A cliff collapse in Auckland’s Kohimarama forced about 20 people out of their homes, as a 10m wide mudslide smashed into an apartment complex just before 8pm on Tuesday night.
A number of roads are closed across the North Island, including State Highway 3 at Awakino Gorge in Waikato, Great North Road/Clark Street in Grey Lynn in Auckland and Auckland’s Tamaki Drive is reduced to one lane near Memorial Drive after a slip.
State Highway 1 from Hundalee to Kaikōura is also closed.
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