Video: State of emergency declared due to flooding in New Zealand

The largest city on New Zealand's south island has declared a state of emergency amid a severe storm which has already seen hundreds of homes evacuated across the Pacific island nation, highways cut and soldiers called in to help provide emergency services.

The New Zealand Defence Force mobilised additional troops overnight, bringing its total deployment to at least a dozen trucks and 140 personnel to provide emergency services and help rescue those trapped by rising flood waters.

Christchurch declared a state of emergency after the Heathcote River burst its banks and flooded southern parts of the city this morning, becoming the fourth area to do so after a severe weather event which has lashed the south island over the past 24 hours, causing widespread flooding.

Local media reports that about 1,500 people in settlements further north were told to leave their homes as water levels rose overnight, while more than 100 homes were evacuated outside of Dunedin, the south island's second largest city.
 [rte.ie]
22/7/17