New Zealand seeks international help as cyclone cripples North Island
New Zealand deployed gunships and helicopters to deliver water, food and fuel to cities cut off by Cyclone Gabrielle on Thursday, as overwhelmed authorities embraced overseas offers of help.
A disaster that has crippled the country’s populous North Island has resulted in the deaths of five people, the disappearance of 100, and the displacement of 10,500 more.
Landslides and widespread flooding were brought on by ferocious winds and torrential downpours over the course of four days, cutting through the island’s road network, resulting in continuous power outages and destroying hundreds of mobile phone towers.
Experts discovered damage to the last functional bridge connecting the 65,000 residents of the east-coast city of Napier with the rest of the country on Thursday, resulting in the city’s continued isolation.
Residents in isolated areas have been instructed to limit their use of water and not leave their homes unless it is “absolutely essential.”
When people do go out, they either have to wade through murky floodwaters to get supplies or they try to call loved ones by huddled on the steps of some buildings that still have wifi.
There are signs at gas stations all over the city that say “NO FUEL” for anyone other than emergency services.
‘Bumpy ride’ Prime Minister Chris Hipkins issued a warning to New Zealanders on Thursday that the recovery process would be long and exhausting, with some areas not expected to receive power for weeks and the cleanup likely to take much longer.
He stated, “This is a traumatic event.” Restoring infrastructure as quickly as possible presents a significant challenge, but we must acknowledge that we are in for a bumpy ride.
There aren’t any quick fixes. Even if the bulldozers were working round-the-clock, it would still take some time to reestablish road links.
Hipkins stated, following the initial rejection of aid from the United States and other nations: We are open to receiving international assistance requests.
In order to deliver thousands of liters of water, personnel, and a number of mobile water treatment plants to the most affected areas, the New Zealand Defence Force has sent two large naval vessels and a C-130 Hercules transport plane.
Hundreds of people who were stranded on their rooftops have been rescued and supplies brought in by NH90 helicopters.
Although the cyclone itself has already dissipated into the South Pacific, additional downpours are anticipated on Thursday, which could impede relief efforts and cause additional landslides.
Estimates of the damage done and the cost of repairs are scarce, and authorities are still trying to figure out how much damage the storm caused.
Jarrod Kerr, chief economist at Kiwibank, stated to AFP, “We know it’s going to be in the region of billions, not millions, of dollars.”
“I think the amount will be between a few billion and a few tens of billion (US$3-6 billion), possibly more,”
