New Zealand Floods and Landslides Cut Power to Thousands

Thousands of people in New Zealand were left without power after severe storms. A powerful low-pressure system swept through the country on Friday, causing flooding, landslides and transportation problems, particularly in central regions, including the capital, Wellington.

The utility company Powerco reported more than 3,000 power outages on Saturday. The meteorological service MetService stated that after a very rainy and windy 24 hours, the weather is gradually calming down.

However, authorities continue to warn of debris and obstacles on the roads, localized flooding and a persistent risk of landslides in Wellington. The inclement weather had already led to the cancellation of approximately 200 flights to and from Wellington on Friday.

In the town of Lower Hutt, north-east of the capital, flooded roads and two landslides were reported. New Zealand also experienced similar consequences of heavy rains in January, when a landslide triggered by torrential rain killed six people at a campsite on the North Island.

(Reuters, Lud)