A man was killed in a public park in Wellington, New Zealand, as a powerful storm swept across the country, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall.
According to RNZ National, the severe weather disrupted travel, forced school closures, and caused widespread power outages in several areas. Flights to and from Wellington were suspended for several hours before gradually resuming amid severe weather conditions, while ferry services were also halted.
The Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService) reported that wind speeds reached 130 km per hour in several areas.
According to data from local electricity company, about 10,000 homes in the rural Wairarapa region were left without power, while schools and businesses in the Kelburn area were closed for the day.
New Zealand has recently experienced a series of severe storms attributed to climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events across the Pacific region.
In February 2023, the country was struck by Cyclone Gabrielle, one of the most destructive natural disasters in its modern history, which left 11 people dead, displaced thousands, and caused significant damage to infrastructure and agriculture
