The largest city on New Zealand's south
island has declared a state of emergency amid a severe storm
which has already seen hundreds of homes evacuated across the
Pacific island nation, highways cut and soldiers called in to
help provide emergency services.
The New Zealand Defence Force mobilised additional troops
overnight on Friday, bringing its total deployment to at least a
dozen trucks and 140 personnel to provide emergency services and
help rescue those trapped by rising flood waters.
Christchurch declared a state of emergency after the
Heathcote River burst its banks and flooded southern parts of
the city on Saturday morning, becoming the fourth area to do so
after a severe weather event which has lashed the south island
over the past 24 hours, causing widespread flooding.
Local media reports that about 1,500 people in settlements
further north were told to leave their homes as water levels
rose overnight, while more than 100 homes were evacuated outside
of Dunedin, the south island's second largest city.
Emergency services are now focused on the Taieri River near
Dunedin, after predictions it would rise to near-record levels
on Saturday.
In addition to Christchurch and Dunedin, states of emergency
are ongoing in Timaru and Otago.
New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English took to social media
to address the nation on Saturday.
"My thoughts are with those affected by the weather events
in the South Island. Please follow official advice and take care
of each other," the prime minister said on Twitter.
The country's weather bureau said rivers in affected areas
remained at very high levels on Saturday morning, after some
areas were hit with more than 200 millimetres (7.8 inches) of
rain in 24 hours.
It predicted that rain should gradually ease throughout the
day, however it said cold temperatures and blizzard-like
conditions could affect those at higher levels.
In good news for the rugby-mad nation, however, a Super
Rugby quarter-final between Dunedin and Christchurch on Saturday
night was scheduled to go ahead after fears the storm could have
disrupted the match.