Severe weather continues to batter New Zealand, with a tornado striking Auckland this morning, causing building collapses and widespread disruption.
Meanwhile, Nelson and Marlborough have declared states of emergency amid catastrophic flooding.
Auckland was rocked by a tornado early today, with ferocious winds tearing through the city, collapsing a building and leaving many households without power.
Torrential rain and thunderstorms are expected to worsen throughout the afternoon, prompting warnings for residents to stay indoors.
Meanwhile, the South Island faces a deepening crisis as Nelson and Tasman endure relentless rainfall, with more than 300mm falling in just 24 hours.
Floodwaters have submerged roads, forced school closures, and left entire communities isolated. In Tapawera and Tadmor Valley, residents were urgently advised to seek higher ground as rivers surged.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith described the situation as “extremely serious,” with critical state highways cut off by flooding, stranding some communities.
Emergency evacuations are underway as rivers continue to rise.
In Marlborough, a state of emergency has also been declared, with dozens of homes evacuated due to rapidly rising floodwaters. Emergency services are working around the clock to assist stranded residents.
The severe weather comes at the worst possible time, with school holidays beginning and many families hitting the roads.
Authorities have warned drivers to avoid non-essential travel, with treacherous conditions expected to persist.
Auckland Airport has reported significant flight disruptions due to high winds, while power outages and road closures are causing chaos across both islands. MetService has issued severe weather warnings for multiple regions, urging people to stay vigilant as the storm system shows no sign of easing.
Stay tuned for further updates as emergency responders assess the damage and more evacuations are expected in the coming hours.
