The floods also blocked the main roads, which caused long traffic queues on the highways.
A state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, as heavy rains have caused widespread flooding and evacuations, as well as the closure of the city’s airports.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said he declared the state of emergency on Friday due to the scale of the “damage, displacement and disruption … and allows emergency services and response agencies to deploy resources and bring in additional powers to help affected Aucklanders”.
“We need the rain to stop. That’s the main question,” Brown told Radio New Zealand.
Auckland Emergency Management said in a post on Twitter that the north, north-west and west of the city had been affected by significant flooding, with conditions expected to worsen.
Auckland Airport right now 🤯 pic.twitter.com/CJBwakOZ74
— carbonated | Bull Club 🐂♧ (@FizzyTBC) January 27, 2023
The agency advised residents in flood-prone areas to prepare to evacuate and opened an evacuation center in West Auckland.
Videos on social media showed firefighters, police and defense force personnel rescuing stranded people from flooded homes using ropes and lifeboats.
British music legend Elton John’s concert in the northern city on Friday, which was expected to draw around 40,000 people at Mt Smart Stadium, has been cancelled, authorities said.
“Due to the weather, tonight’s show has been cancelled. Our operations team is working to divert special event buses to help people get home,” Auckland Transport said in a statement on Twitter.
The floods also blocked the main roads, which caused long traffic queues on the highways.
Auckland Airport said it had reduced operations on its runway after an arriving aircraft damaged runway lighting.
“This greatly affects international arrivals and departures and larger aircraft traveling domestically,” the airport said on Twitter.