Cyclone Gita hits New Zealand; leaves 30000 powerless

Wellington, February 20: A severe Cyclone named ‘Gita’ has New Zealand has left nearly 30000 houses powerless. And also all the flights to New Zealand were canceled due to heavy rains and bad weather.

The capital Wellington and the southern city of Christchurch declared a state of emergency as the remnants of tropical cyclone Gita pummelled the country.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters at Parliament that military had been deployed to areas likely to be worst hit and the country's national Civil Defense office in Wellington was on standby to help local authorities.

"My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel and please just be careful," she said.

Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 kph (171 mph) and causing widespread destruction and flooding. It had earlier caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa.

More than 40 schools and preschools were closed in the upper South Island, while local mayors urged people not to leave their homes.

Transport authorities shut a stretch of highway along the east coast of the South Island and the Department of Conservation was closing picturesque seaside hiking tracks and campsites along the West Coast and ushering tourists away from low-lying areas, media said.