“As the tree was too large for firefighters to remove safely, the residents were advised to evacuate immediately,” it said.
Fire and Emergency assistant national commander Ken Cooper said more than half of the calls came from people in the Wellington region as the storm moved south, but every part of the North Island except Northland reported storm damage or flooding.
“We had a very busy night, and our firefighters are continuing to respond to calls. We appreciate the work they are doing to support their communities and we urge people to follow the advice from Civil Defence to prepare and keep themselves safe, wherever they may be.”
The NZ Heraldreported more than 30,000 households are reportedly without power across the North Island.
Powerlines in Stokes Valley trapped firefighters in a car. Photo / Melissa Nightingale
Safety advice
– Switch off all appliances including stoves and heaters that were in use when the power went off.
– Torches are preferable to candles. If candles are your only alternative, put them upright in a secure holder, like a jar, well away from curtains or anything flammable.
– Do not use outdoor heaters or cooking equipment indoors.
Emergency calls breakdown
111 calls relating to the weather received between 6pm Sunday and 8am Monday:
Urgent response (threat to life or serious damage) – total 97
