WELLINGTON Feb 24 (BNA): New Zealand police said Friday that the number of people who remain “uncontactable” in the aftermath of Hurricane Gabriel that hit New Zealand two weeks ago has dropped to 23.
Police are working to reach people whose friends or family members have listed them as uncontactable. The number of people who could not be contacted exceeded 6,000 in the aftermath of the typhoon as many areas were cut off from communications.
Gabriel struck New Zealand nearly two weeks ago causing widespread chaos across the country’s North Island, killing at least 11 people and displacing thousands, according to Reuters.
Parts of the Hawke’s Bay area, on the east coast and one of the hardest hit areas, are currently experiencing heavy rains and an emergency management group has ordered the evacuation of people near a river in the area.
Severe weather also prompted flash flooding and evacuation warnings in and around Auckland, as well as in the North Island which is home to a third of the country’s population. Local media reported that people were rescued from cars that were stranded due to high water.
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