WELLINGTON, Feb 19 (NNN-XINHUA) – The death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle has reached nine in New Zealand, officials said, yesterday.
Acting Director, Emergency Management of the National Emergency Management Agency, Roger Ball, told a media briefing that, nine people had lost their lives and emergency services feared the death toll was expected to rise.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Glenn Dunbier, confirmed that, the official death toll currently sits at nine, including seven people in the Eastern District and two in Auckland. He said, there was a small number of missing people, whom police had heightened concerns.
Additional police staff from all around the country were dispatched to the affected area, to assist local police.
Communications in areas most affected by Cyclone Gabrielle are still disrupted, but slowly resuming. The New Zealand Police are urging people, who have been affected by the cyclone, to register online that they are safe.
As of 2.00 p.m. local time yesterday, there have been 5,608 reports of uncontactable people registered, and 1,196 reports from people registering they are safe.
New Zealand declared a national state of emergency on Tuesday, the third time in the country’s history, as Cyclone Gabrielle lashed New Zealand’s North Island.– NNN-XINHUA
