Severe Flooding in Wellington Leads to State of Emergency and Displacement
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, has been hit by severe flooding, leading to a state of emergency. The flooding, which began on Monday, resulted in significant damage across the city, with rainfall totals nearly tripling the monthly averages. More than 70mm of rain fell in one hour in parts of southern Wellington, marking the highest on record for the city. The floods caused rivers to rush through streets, flipped cars, and led to landslides. The body of Philip Sutton, who was swept away by the floodwaters while looking after a property in Karori, was found some distance from his car. Search and rescue operations were initially hampered by further torrential rain. Despite the lifting of rain and wind warnings, the state of emergency remains in place due to ongoing hazards such as landslides and unstable structures.