New Zealand authorities confirmed Thursday that five people, including a child, have died as a result of Cyclone ‘Gabrielle’ passing through the country, all while the death toll is expected to rise.
Emergency services have recovered a lifeless body Thursday in the north of Hawke’s Bay, in the east of the country, while during the previous days they found a minor, who had been trapped by heavy rains, a woman, who had died when her house collapsed, and a third person had been found on the seashore, reports RZN.
On the other hand, a volunteer firefighter who had been trapped by a landslide in the town of Muriwai, on the west coast of New Zealand, has been found.
Police have indicated on numerous occasions that several people are missing, as well as communities cut off, so the number will increase as search and rescue efforts progress.
The Hawke’s Bay Civil Defense has maintained that its priority is to establish contact with the communities that have been isolated on Thursday, according to the aforementioned radio station.
«It’s a great tragedy for the communities in the eastern districts. It’s unbelievable the devastation and if you’ve been on the ground, myself, and when you see it, it’s hard to comprehend, but we’re working to get through it and we’re working very hard,» said Police East District Commander Jeanette Park.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has been to the affected area, where he visited residents and local officials, and announced that the government is accepting offers of international assistance.
Hipkins did not give further details on this announcement, indicating that he would provide information on the matter in the coming hours, as reported by RNZ.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
