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Sydney: The number of people still missing after Cyclone Gabrielle that struck New Zealand two weeks ago has dropped to eight, authorities said on Sunday, amid warnings of more wild weather for the nation’s North Island.
A man walks past a tree uprooted in Cyclone Gabrielle at Titirangi Golf Club on February 15.Credit:Getty Images
Gabrielle hit the island’s northern region on February 12 and then the east coast, causing widespread destruction, leaving at least 11 dead and displacing thousands.
The number of people missing topped 6000 following the storm as communications were disrupted in many areas, but has fallen in the wake of recovery efforts.
“The remaining number of people includes those who, for a variety of reasons, do not engage with authorities,” New Zealand police said early on Sunday.
“Regardless, getting in touch with those remaining eight remains a priority for police, and our staff are exploring all avenues to try and locate them.”
A fuel tank is half buried in silt in a field on Dartmoore Road following flooding on February 16 in Napier, New Zealand. Credit:Getty Images
Severe weather again hit the North Island on Friday, with heavy rain prompting more evacuations in Hawke’s Bay, one of the regions hardest-hit by Gabrielle.
It also triggered flash floods and evacuation warnings in and around Auckland, the nation’s largest city with a population of about 1.6 million.
On Sunday, New Zealand weather forecaster MetService warned that storms were possible later in the day, especially across the North Island and the top of the South Island.