NATURAL EVENTS
Floods in New Zealand: train derails, airport flooded, landslides and flooding in Auckland
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State of emergency
Auckland, New Zealand's largest city with a population of 1.6 million, is in a state of emergency. Battered by rain since last Friday, it faces landslides and flooding as the death toll rises to at least four.
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The forecast
The National MetService weather service predicts that the bad weather will continue for a few more days.
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Air traffic in a tailspin
Auckland airport also flooded. Blocked air traffic for hours.
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Maximum alert
New Prime Minister Chris Hipkins promised government support in the coming days and warned people of the continuing bad weather.
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The statements of the new prime minister
"This is an unprecedented event in recent memory," said New Zealand Premier Chris Hipkins after visiting some of the areas devastated by the severe weather.
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Record numbers
The city of Auckland has broken all its rainfall records, experts say. 249 millimeters compared with a previous record of 161 millimeters in 24 hours.
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There are victims
Police specified that the bodies of two men were found in floodwaters in a northern suburb.
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Third victim
A third person died after a landslide knocked down a house near the city center.
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Fourth victim
The fourth victim was swept away by water south of Auckland.
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Train derailed
Heavy rains in New Zealand also caused a freight train to derail. The accident occurred in Te Puke and fortunately resulted in no fatalities. The convoy was carrying mainly lumber.
