Deaths from Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand reach 8

Prime Minister Hipkins visits affected regions of Napier, Esk Valley, and Hawke's Bay, fearing that death toll to rise further

ANKARA (AA) – The death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand has risen to eight, with another body discovered in Napier, a coastal city on the North Island, state-run media said on Friday.

The body of a 59-year-old woman was found in the roof cavity of her cottage, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) said, citing a local police statement.

While a ninth death – the father of former NZ Kiwis star Issac Luke – has also been reported, officials have yet to confirm it, said the media outlet.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins along with Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty, and other officials also visited the affected regions of Napier, Esk Valley, and Hawke's Bay.

Hipkins was concerned that the death toll would continue to rise.

"To put it really simply, it is really rough up there. There is still no power in Napier but every effort is being made to restore it as soon as possible," RNZ quoted the prime minister as saying.

He added that the devastating flood caused huge damage to farmland.

"I saw first-hand today though just how much Cyclone Gabrielle is going to affect the whole country. We do need to prepare ourselves for the fact that it's going to disrupt some parts of our food supply," he said.

On Thursday, a severe thunderstorm also hit the North Island, and the Met Service recorded about 4,400 lightning strikes up until dusk.

Cyclone Gabrielle triggered widespread flooding and landslides and displaced thousands of people in different regions of the country.

On Tuesday, New Zealand declared a national state of emergency in six regions, including Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Hawke’s Bay.

This is the third time in New Zealand's history that an emergency has been declared. It was first declared following the 2011 earthquake, and again in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roads in the affected regions are also still impassable due to flooding and landslides, and telecommunications services have been disrupted.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid

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