New Zealanders evacuated from parts of coast as storm hits
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Bluesky
-
Share on X
- Copy Link
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Hundreds of people in New Zealand were evacuated from some coastal areas on Thursday as the second major storm in just over a week made landfall near the North Island town of Whakatane.
But residents of the nation’s largest city, Auckland, breathed a sigh of relief as the remnants of Cyclone Cook moved past them to the east. Authorities had earlier worried the storm could hit the city and cause major problems.
“It seems Auckland has largely survived … unscathed,” tweeted Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.
Civil defence authorities said people from about 250 homes in the beach town of Ohope were told they had to evacuate, while other households chose to leave. Authorities had earlier advised people in low elevations on the Coromandel Peninsula to evacuate to higher ground, as large waves were expected to batter the coast.
