Officials warn more flooding could hit New Zealand's North Island after deadly rains

New Zealand’s weather bureau warned more flooding could hit the North Island a day after floods caused power outages, road collapses, home evacuations and the death of a man whose vehicle was submerged on a highway. The bureau said there was a "threat to life from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips" as a deepening low-pressure system east of the North Island brought heavy rain and severe gales to several regions.

The worst weather was forecast to hit late on Sunday, with conditions slowly easing on Monday, after heavy rain began battering large swaths of the country on Friday. Authorities had a state of emergency in place for the districts of Waipa and Otorohanga, an agricultural region home to about 10,000 people 180km south of Auckland.

About 4,291 properties remained without power on the North Island, energy company Powerco said. On Saturday a man apparently died in his car in flood waters and about 80 people were evacuated to an emergency centre.

New Zealand, North Island

new zealand, north island, flooding, heavy rain, severe gales, river conditions, power outages, road collapses, evacuations, otorohanga