Overall Green alert Flood
in New Zealand

Event summary

This flood can have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID FL 1101859
Death: 0
Displaced: 3810
Countries: New Zealand
From - To 12 Feb - 14 Feb

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New Zealand - Floods and landslides update (ECHO 17 Feb 2023)Fri, 17 Feb 2023 11:39

  • The number of casualties continues to increase in the North Island of New Zealand, after being impacted by floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall related to post-Tropical Cyclone GABRIELLE. 
  • According to media reports, at least eight people died, while more than 4,500 are still unaccounted for, as search and rescue operations continue. Most of the impact has been reported in Hawke’s Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island, where up to 37,000 households are still experiencing power outages. 
  • On 17-18 February, drier conditions are expected over New Zealand. 
Cyclone Gabrielle, New Zealand, February 2023The Government in New Zealand declared a National State of Emergency in response to Cyclone Gabrielle. The declaration applied to the regions of Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti (Gisborne), Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawke's Bay and Tararua District. Strong winds downed trees and power lines, leaving over 200,000 without electricity. Some areas of the Gisborne region were also without internet and telecommunications. Air New Zealand cancelled hundreds of domestic and international flights. Storm surge, high tides and high waves caused coastal flooding in areas around the east coast and far north of the North Island. Torrential rain triggered floods and landslides across several regions including Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Northland, Waikato and Auckland. Officials in Gisborne Region said rivers jumped to record levels in several locations. A firefighter is missing after a landslide in Muriwai in West Auckland. Hawke’s Bay Region The Wairoa River burst its banks, affecting around 4,000 people in the town of Wairoa. 8,000 residents isolated. In Central Hawke's Bay District, the Waipawa and Tukituki Rivers both broke their banks. The Ngaruroro River overtopped its banks, resulting in the evacuation of the village of Omahu. Earlier in the day residents in Taradale and parts of Meeanee were evacuated given the level of the Tutaekuri River but were later allowed to return home. Civil Defence said one person remains trapped in a home in Putorino following a landslip. Gisborne Region Tairawhiti (Gisborne) Regional Civil Defence residents in the Ormond township near the Mahunga Stream should evacuate if safe to do so after the rapid rise of the Waipaoa River. Residents in areas near the Waimata river in the city of Gisborne also evacuated their homes after river levels rose. Bay of Plenty Region Coastal floods caused by high tides and storm surge in the Bay of Plenty Region prompted evacuations in Little Waihi near Maketu and Opotiki on 13 February. Waikato Region Areas of the town of Thames were flooded after the Kauaeranga River broke its banks. Northland Region In Northland Region, several residents in central Whangarei were evacuated due to the threat of landslides. Other evacuations were carried out in Dargaville due to the threat of flooding from high tides and high river levels. Auckland A firefighter remains missing after being caught in a landslide in Muriwai, west of Auckland. A second firefighter involved was critically injured.Tue 14 Feb 2023FloodList provided by Copernicus GLOFAS
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Latest media headlines

Articles: 237 | About casualties: 10 | Last hour: 0

Floods tore this community apart. Interpretive dance and a Gloria Gayn ... 2023-02-18T00:17+0100.

Gloria Gaynor's 1978 camp classic I Will Survive has taken on new meaning for Lismore flood survivor Brigitte Churchill, better known in the LGBTIQ+ community as Liplash. The record-breaking disaster on February 28 last year left Ms Churc
...(more)
New Zealand Faces a Future of Flood and Fire2023-02-17T19:24+0100.

The upshot is that New Zealand is now facing the prospect of bushfire seasons that could rival those of its notoriously flammable neighbor, Australia. “For the eastern parts of the country, the expectation is that the frequency of droughts
...(more)
Ocho muertos y miles de desaparecidos por ciclón en Nueva Zelanda2023-02-17T16:00+0100.

Al menos ocho personas murieron en Nueva Zelanda por por el ciclón Gabrielle, entre ellas una niña de dos años que fue arrastrada por las aguas, informaron el viernes las autoridades. La tormenta se ha desvanecido en el Pacífico Sur pero de
...(more)
New Zealand reports 8 deaths in wake of cyclone2023-02-17T16:00+0100.

This aerial photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) on Feb. 16, 2023 shows the flood scene in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Unprecedented floods and landslides have left eight people dead and more than 3,500 others missing as Cyc
...(more)

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (36), (2), NASA (7), WMO (1), INFORM (2),