Three Dead After Torrential Rain In Auckland

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January 28, 2023

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Three people have died and at least one is missing after record levels of rainfall triggered flash floods in Auckland, New Zealand. According to weather agencies. The amount of rain that would typically fall during the entire summer hit the area in a single day with more than 150mm (6 inches) of rain falling in just three hours in some places.

Highways were closed and floodwater poured into homes. Hundreds of people were stranded at Auckland Airport overnight after parts of the terminal were flooded and flights cancelled.

Police said they found a man’s body in a flooded culvert and another in a flooded car park. They said one person was missing after being swept away by floodwaters, while another remained unaccounted for after a landslide brought down a house in the suburb of Remuera. Air New Zealand said it had resumed domestic flights in and out of Auckland on Saturday afternoon but was not yet sure when international flights would resume. The storm also caused an Elton John concert to be cancelled just before it was due to start on Friday night. A second concert by John that was planned at the stadium on Saturday night was also cancelled. About 40,000 people were expected to attend each concert at Mt Smart Stadium.