Severe weather conditions including heavy downpour, snowfall, large waves and strong winds have battered New Zealand on Thursday prompting a state of emergency for the South Island's largest city, Christchurch, according to the Associated Press.
However, no deaths or serious injuries have been reported so far. The extent of damage was not clear by afternoon, but evacuations were not widespread.
It has been reported that the capital Wellington for the first time faced a red wind warning, the most severe alert level, on Thursday.
Authorities urged the to stay indoors, keep away from doors and windows and avoid travel and as winds reached a fierce speed of up to 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph).
According to AP, Wellington바카라™s emergency management chief, Dan Neely, warned residents to take the warnings seriously because the southerly tempest was unusually strong and could threaten lives.
Besides the capital city, Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island, experienced heavy deluges which caused rivers to spill over their banks.
Orange-level warnings, the second most serious level of extreme weather alert, were issued across parts of both islands for severe rain and large sea swells, and in some South Island districts for heavy snow.
Flights Ops Hit, Power Outage
In view of the adverse weather conditions, several flights to and from Wellington have been cancelled throughout Thursday and passenger ferry sailings between the North and South Islands were halted until at least Friday afternoon.
Around 1,000 properties faced power outage in the wider Wellington region, which has a population of 550,000. In view of the risky weather conditions, the city바카라™s largest university remained closed for the day, the Royal New Zealand Ballet cancelled an evening performance, and several schools sent students home.
New Zealanders are accustomed to wild winter conditions because of geographic features that produce variable and sometimes extreme weather across the country of 5 million people. But it was unusual that such widespread warnings were issued.
