Auckland in a State of Emergency
A house near Oakley Creek. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
Auckland is reeling from severe flooding after being battered by heavy rains, with parts of the city still submerged. A local state of emergency has been declared, and a Civil Defence Centre has been set up in West Auckland.
The area has been hit by flooding and landslides, leaving roads blocked and dangerous driving conditions. The Mayor has urged residents to stay calm but vigilant and to stay away from floodwaters and open drains.
Emergency services have responded to hundreds of callouts, with Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the police attending around 280 flooding-related jobs and over 250 weather-related jobs respectively. Despite the significant rainfall, emergency services were able to cope well with the situation.
However, Auckland's wastewater network is "overwhelmed," and overflows have occurred across the city. A slip has also caused a water main to burst in Warkworth, which is being repaired by Watercare. Although the rain should move over Bay of Plenty tonight, it is forecast to remain changeable elsewhere, with showery conditions expected for the next few days as colder air moves over the country. Auckland's tap water remains safe to drink.
This flooding is a reminder of the Anniversary Auckland floods, and the State of Emergency declaration was made based on the lessons learned from that experience. The situation is distressing for residents, who are being advised to exercise caution and take care of themselves and their loved ones.