New Zealand faced a devastating impact from Hurricane Gabrielle, with at least three confirmed fatalities and thousands evacuated as the storm battered communities across the country. The hurricane forced the relocation of about 10,500 residents and caused widespread damage to infrastructure, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Emergency officials, including New Zealand Emergencies Minister Kieran McAnulty, confirmed the fatalities while cautioning that the death toll could rise as rescue and search operations continued in multiple locations. In remarks carried by RNZ, he emphasized that the situation represented an enormous and unprecedented climate event, and that authorities remained vigilant as teams worked to assess the full scope of the disaster and extend life-saving efforts to affected areas.
Crews located the body of an individual in Muriwai on New Zealand’s west coast, where volunteers had been assisting in rescue operations and a firefighter had reportedly been stranded in heavy rainfall. In Hawke’s Bay, located in the north of the country, two deaths were attributed to a collapsed residence in one instance and to a person found on a shoreline in another, underscoring the wide-reaching dangers posed by Gabie
McAnulty noted that Gabrielle had begun to move away from the coast, suggesting that the worst of the storm may be behind the country. Nevertheless, he warned that danger could still persist as weather conditions remained volatile in some regions and recovery efforts commenced in earnest.
The government declared a national state of emergency on Tuesday to coordinate response measures to this unusually severe meteorological event with significant consequences across communities. Earlier on Monday, thousands had been evacuated from the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island due to flooding linked to Gabrielle, though authorities reported no confirmed casualties at that stage. Local officials and emergency services continued to monitor rivers, coastal areas, and secure critical routes to ensure aid could reach affected residents promptly. Through the ongoing response, agencies sought to balance immediate rescue needs with longer-term recovery planning, recognizing the lasting impact of the cyclone on housing, power infrastructure, and everyday life in affected districts. State support aimed to mobilize resources for shelter, medical care, and essential services as communities began to outline priorities for rebuilding and resilience in the days ahead. (Source: RNZ, field reports from authorities and government briefings)