The belt of torrential rain which has brought flooding and slips across northern New Zealand is currently mainly centred over the Waikato and Waitomo district.
But it is also reaching northern Taranaki and parts of the upper South Island.
A train was derailed in Te Puke due to heavy rain.
- READ MORE: Auckland floods a future sign – city needs stormwater systems fit for climate change
NZ’s first climate adaptation plan is a good start, but crucial questions about cost and timing must be answered - With seas rising and storms surging, who will pay for New Zealand’s most vulnerable coastal properties?
- Other Asia Pacific Report coverage of Auckland’s flooding
- Follow RNZ live news updates
Residents in already hard-hit areas like Auckland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty are on watch for thunderstorms and more heavy rain.
MetService now says there could be heavy rain and thunderstorms as far south as the Marlborough Sounds and the Rai Valley as well as Tasman.
It has put in place heavy rain warnings for Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo, Mount Taranaki, Marlborough Sounds and Tasman northwest of Motueka.
In other developments:
- At least three people have died and one person is still missing after slips and heavy flooding in Auckland
- A train has derailed in Te Puke due to rain on the tracks.
- Auckland and now Waitomo are under a state of emergency
- Heavy rain has hit Coromandel and Bay of Plenty overnight
- A house has collapsed in Tauranga but no injuries were reported.
- An Interislander ferry lost power in Cook Strait but managed to restart its engines and arrived in Wellington about 9pm on Saturday
Officials say people in immediate danger should call 111, keep an eye on social media, and evacuate to a nearby shelter if they need.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Radar update: thunderstorm bringing heavy rain to Pukekohe
Keep an eye on the radar at https://t.co/7k3nmeeZKF
Severe Weather info https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/F97wV6fpU9
— MetService (@MetService) January 28, 2023
This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by APR editor.
APR editor | Radio Free (2023-01-28T23:37:56+00:00) NZ floods: Heavy rain hits Waikato, Waitomo and derails train. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2023/01/28/nz-floods-heavy-rain-hits-waikato-waitomo-and-derails-train/
Please log in to upload a file.
There are no updates yet.
Click the Upload button above to add an update.