This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
New Zealand cyclone fatalities reach 8 as more deaths are feared
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, left, and Hawke's Bay Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group Controller Ian McDonald survey cyclone Gabrielle damage to the Esk Valley, north of Napier, New Zealand, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(
Mark Mitchell
/
AP
)
Updated February 17, 2023 at 5:42 AM ET
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The death toll from New Zealand's cyclone reached eight on Friday with more than 4,500 people still unaccounted for four days after the nation's most destructive weather event in decades brought widespread flooding, landslides and power outages, the prime minister said.
Cyclone Gabrielle struck the country's north on Monday 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 5 million people.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said three more fatalities had been confirmed since Thursday and police held "grave fears" for other missing persons.
"Police report that there are 4,549 persons reported as uncontactable. A team of 80 people are working now to narrow down this list as quickly as possible and to prioritize contact with those who are most likely to be missing," Hipkins told reporters.
Hipkins said he didn't know how far the death toll would climb.
"The thing is we don't know. We're not talking huge numbers," he said. "It's not like I'm aware that there are lots and lots and lots out there that we're not reporting. We're still picking up one or two (fatalities) at a time," he added.
Sponsored message
Hipkins also said police hadn't specified to him how many people were considered to be of serious concern, but "there are several people that they are very concerned about."
A team of 25 Australian disaster response experts arrived Friday in New Zealand to help local authorities.
The North Island east coast around New Zealand's most populous city, Auckland, has been hardest hit and several communities remained isolated on Friday.
Auckland was swamped two weeks ago by a record-breaking storm that killed four people.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
