The natural phenomenon called Gabrielle swept along the north coast of the country, leaving a trail of destruction and isolating hundreds of communities; Among the victims is a twoyearold girl who was swept away by the current
STR / AFP
A New Zealand began calculating the damage caused by the passage of a cyclone which devastated the country’s north coast over the week reaching the negative mark of eight deaths and more than 10,000 missing as a result of the natural phenomenon. The typhoon, named Gabrielle, caused the isolation of hundreds of communities and those affected had to evacuate their homes due to lack of electricity and drinking water. The Hawke’s Bay area was hardest hit and among the victims is a twoyearold girl who was swept away by the water and did not fight back. Chris Hipkins, Prime Ministerelect of New Zealand after the resignation of Jacinda Ardern, visited the region and said he witnessed the “very fragile” situation of the population living near where the cyclone passed. “I’m just asking people to keep going, we’re going to get through this. Let’s get out of there,” said the politician. Kieran McAnulty, Secretary of State for Emergency Management, said it was an “unprecedented weather event”. The New Zealand government reported that at least 62,000 homes are without access to energy and there is no forecast for a return to normal. During the week, the prime minister ordered that military ships and helicopters which began rescuing people living isolated on rooftops would be made available to send water, food and fuel to remote towns after Gabrielle’s passage. At first, the government ruled out aid US and from other countries, but after a reevaluation she stated that she would now accept “offers of international assistance”. “In some cases, the water reached the second floor of the houses where people were rescued,” a military spokesman said. The north coast of New Zealand is currently under a national state of emergency.