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The New Zealand Defence Force has been deployed to assist Muriwai locals evacuate the area after Cyclone Gabrielle
Cyclone Gabrielle: Firefighter missing after landslide as Army assists with evacuations in Muriwai
NZ Herald
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Around 200 residents took shelter at the Muriwai Surf Club overnight.
“It has been an incredibly tough night for communities across Tāmaki Makaurau, especially Muriwai. Our thoughts are with the whānau and the colleagues of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand crew directly involved in responding to the major incident on Motutara Rd,” says Deputy Controller Rachel Kelleher.
Kelleher said building assessors are assembling at Muriwai to begin visiting affected homes to assess for damage and, where needed, issue placards.
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Muriwai volunteer lifeguard service chairperson Michael Ward said he is seeing devastating scenes of collapsed houses and carnage after Cyclone Gabrielle hit the west coast beach settlement.
Ward told the Herald that the destruction is unlike anything he has seen before.
“It’s just complete carnage out there,” he said.
Ward said it was still blowing out west and they were currently working to put together a clean-up operation.
A firefighter is still missing while another has been rescued after the pair were trapped in a landslide in Muriwai overnight.
A house collapsed around 10pm on Motutara Rd, Muriwai as Fire and Emergency was evacuating residents.
Fire and Emergency says the rescued firefighter is in a critical condition.
The search for the missing firefighter was suspended in the early hours of the morning due to the instability of the land.
Fire and Emergency chief executive Kerry Gregory said crew from one of the volunteer fire brigades were investigating flooding in a house on Motutara Rd when the landslide occurred on the slope above, and the house collapsed.
Ten crews from seven brigades, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Police and St John were all involved in the rescue operation.
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A geotechnical assessment of the area will be carried out as soon as possible so decisions can be made about resuming the search, Gregory said.
”Our thoughts are with our firefighters, and with their loved ones,” Gregory said.
”We are also providing support to the other members of their brigade.
”This is a very difficult time for them, and for every member of Fire and Emergency NZ, when we are also focused on responding to the continuing need in so many communities across the North Island today.”
More information will be provided at the 8am Auckland Emergency Management briefing.
Civil Defence Minister Kieran McAnulty said it was distressing to hear about the two firefighters trapped by a landslide in Muriwai.
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”These are highly trained volunteers, they left their own families to go help their communities,” he told AM.
Slips have cut off the Auckland west coast beach settlement overnight and residents were evacuated as Cyclone Gabrielle caused carnage across the North Island.
NEMA national operations manager Roger Ball said Muriwai was cut off last night.
“It’s been a very frightening and challenging night for people, especially in Muriwai,” he said.
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