Wellington: New Zealand authorities evacuated hundreds of residents from waterfront homes in the capital, Wellington, after coastal areas were battered by storm surges reaching nearly 11 meters in height, accompanied by strong winds that caused widespread disruption to transportation and services.
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little declared a local state of emergency in several coastal neighborhoods, including Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay, and Breaker Bay, in response to weather warnings of dangerously high waves and strong winds.
Mandatory evacuation orders went into effect Tuesday morning, with police deployed to oversee the relocation of residents to higher and safer ground. Authorities also closed roads leading to the coastal areas and restricted access.
The New Zealand Meteorological Service reported that waves reaching nearly 11 meters in height struck Wellington Harbour, while Island Bay experienced strong winds and waves that swept across coastal roads.
The severe weather also disrupted transportation, with several flights to and from Wellington Airport canceled after wind gusts reached 128 kilometers per hour. Interislander and Bluebridge also suspended some ferry services across the Cook Strait.
It added that the high waves were caused by a deep low-pressure system and a powerful storm in the South Pacific and south of New Zealand. This resulted in exceptionally high waves that reached the southern coast of Wellington, accompanied by strong winds that further impacted coastal areas and infrastructure.
News Zealand's MetService confirmed that this weather phenomenon was not related to any seismic activity or tsunami, including the earthquake that struck the Philippines on Monday. It noted that the warnings and precautionary measures were based on weather forecasts predicting high waves and strong winds.
