New Zealand: Storm pounds North Island

Walls of sandbags are being erected as dozens of Auckland house owners prepare for a second bout of flooding in 24 hours. The Auckland Civil Defence emergency coordination centre has been activated and controller Clive Manley says the region will continue to be affected by gales. Residents of Herald Island are bracing for another surge of water at high tide. About 30 Herald Island properties were evacuated and properties in Maratai, Leigh, Clevedon, Beachlands and Sandspit were flooded by intense rain which hit the city last night. Manley says those areas are likely to be flooded again during high tide at midnight. He has sent workers to shore up the Herald Is properties with sandbags. "Those properties will remain evacuated overnight. People will keep away from those areas." The weather has cut power in Remuera and in Mt Wellington, while in west Auckland, residents at Piha, Titirangi and Henderson have been without electricity. Vector says it has been working on fixing the fault, but some areas may be without power because of damage to service lines...Read More