Reportage

New Zealand: deadly weather and considerable damage in Auckland

Audio 01:02

People cross a flooded street in Auckland, Friday, January 27, 2023. AP - Dean Purcell

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The heavy floods that have submerged the city of Auckland in New Zealand since Friday January 27 continue to do damage.

The death toll now stands at four.

And if the cleaning has already started, the weather forecast still announces heavy showers in the hours to come.

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With our correspondent in Auckland,

Richard Tindiller  

Several thousand residents are still without electricity and hundreds of them still do not have access to water.

In West Auckland, which was hardest hit by the floods, volunteers are doing all they can to distribute water to residents.  

“ 

There has been no running water for more than three days.

Yesterday, we pumped water for fourteen hours to distribute it in bottles to the inhabitants.

We do our best for the community

 ,” says a volunteer. 

A landslide caused by floodwaters undermines a house in Auckland, Saturday January 28, 2023. AP - Hadyen Woodward

► To read also: Auckland in a state of emergency after torrential rains

Arm yourself with patience  

More than 25 districts of Auckland are submerged by these floods.

In Epsom, right in the city centre, residents have started cleaning up, but concerns are now over insurance claims.

We know it will take months,

" says a woman.

There are so many other homes that have been affected.

It's hard to imagine when we'll be able to get reparations.

 »  

More than 2,000 declarations are made per day, a rate which is not likely to slow down in the days to come.

Insurers warn them that it will take patience.  

As for the weather, if the rain calmed down on Monday in Auckland, heavy showers are again to be expected in the days to come.  

Terrifying scenes from Auckland's flood being live-streamed on TikTok.

Airport, highways, supermarkets closed 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fYk4W9NHez

— Olivia Carville (@livcarville) January 28, 2023

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