Status: 01/27/2023 12:02 p.m
Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, is flooded in large parts. In a very short time, there was almost as much rain as usual in a whole summer. The city declared a state of emergency.
After massive rains in the middle of the New Zealand summer, large parts of Auckland are under water. The city declared an official state of emergency and warned of further flooding. The citizens of the metropolis with 1.6 million inhabitants should get to safety, demanded the civil protection.
The National Research Institute NIWA said that in some areas of the city, 80 percent of the rainfall that is otherwise measured all 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 recommended residents in areas that could be flooded to prepare for evacuations. The fire brigade are also on duty with kayaks and jet skis to rescue people from their homes.
The New Zealand emergency services received more than 1,000 emergency calls. Among the numerous emergency calls were some whose houses were flooded. The agency urged citizens to keep lines clear for callers in imminent danger.
Numerous roads had to be closed due to the flooding. There was a power outage in parts of Auckland. The city’s airport is closed due to the flooding. Domestic and international flights have been suspended. Some of the airport terminals are knee-deep in water, as pictures on social media show.
Elton John concert cancelled
A planned concert by Elton John was canceled due to the flooding. More than 40,000 people bought tickets for the event. Thousands were already at the venue when the organizers canceled at short notice. Many concert-goers were frustrated that the decision had not been 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 it in politics and take our actions seriously.”
The biggest problem right now, however, is that the rain isn’t stopping, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said in an interview with Radio New Zealand.