Cyclone Gabrielle: New Zealand declares national state of emergency

People are trapped on homes and roofs by flooding, landslides have destroyed homes, and a national state of emergency has been declared as Cyclone Gabrielle continues to batter New Zealand.

The country announced a national state of emergency as the scale of damage inflicted by the storm emerged on Tuesday.

Emergency management minister Kieran McAnulty said Gabrielle was an “an unprecedented weather event” and was “having major impacts across much of the North Island”.

It is only the third time in New Zealand history that a national state of emergency has been declared. The designation means that the national government can send resources across the country to bolster civil defence efforts.

Some communities, such as the coastal region of Gisborne, have reportedly been cut off entirely, lacking power, mobile networks or road access. Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it had lost all communication with crews on the ground in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Flood waters rose to envelop homes and buildings in some areas: in Hastings, some people workers sheltered on the roofs of their building.

The conditions are making evacuations and rescues difficult. One firefighter is in a critical condition, and another still missing after a landslide destroyed the house that they were inspecting in Muriwai.

More details soon …