New Zealand Declares Emergency in Capital After It Was Battered by Torrential Rain
There were landslides, flash floods and the closure of more than 100 schools in Wellington and the surrounding region.
www.nytimes.comWellington has just been hit by severe flooding, with authorities declaring a state of emergency after record rainfall caused flash floods, landslides, road closures, and evacuations. As of the latest reports, there are no confirmed fatalities, but one person is missing and cleanup efforts are ongoing.[2][8]
What happened
Heavy rain dumped about 77 mm in less than an hour in Wellington, which officials called a record for the city. The flooding affected the central city and surrounding areas, with homes, roads, and vehicles damaged or submerged.[1][8][2]
Current impact
More than 100 schools were closed across the wider Wellington region, and authorities urged residents in low-lying or flood-prone areas to evacuate or shelter elsewhere temporarily. Emergency crews have been responding to widespread calls for help, while landslides and saturated ground continue to raise the risk of more flooding.[3][1][2]
Ongoing concerns
Weather officials warned that additional wet weather was still possible, and that already saturated soils could trigger more slips and localized flooding. Some emergency restrictions were lifted in parts of the region, but the broader emergency response remained in place.[2][3]