Residents in flood-prone areas of West Auckland are being asked to prepare to evacuate as bad weather causes power cuts and car crashes across Tāmaki Makaurau, with a severe thunderstorm watch in place for the north of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Auckland Emergency Management said the severe weather across the city was worsening and it was trying to assess what action was needed.
If lives were at risk, residents should phone 111 immediately, it said in a social media post.
It also asked people to check on neighbours, friends and family members but not to put themselves in danger to do so.
Aucklanders have faced a chaotic commute ahead of the long weekend for the city’s anniversary with some ferries cancelled, and crashes on the northwestern and southwestern motorways.
The north, and north west, areas of Auckland have been particularly hit by the weather, police said in a statement.
Auckland Anniversary Day on January 29 is a public holiday observed in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand, being the region’s provincial anniversary day.
It is observed throughout the historic Auckland Province, even though the provinces of New Zealand were abolished in 1876.
Sir Elton John was expected to take to the stage at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium for the final time tonight and tomorrow night with crowds of 40,000.
However, tonight’s concert was cancelled and more bad weather is expected tomorrow.
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Flooding has forced us out of studio. More to come
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Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
