28/02/2023
New Zealand: eight still missing after Gabrielle, as authorities eye two more potential cyclones
Police continue search as forecaster says two tropical cyclones may form this week, though risk of direct impact on New Zealand is ‘relatively low’
Staff and agencies
Sun 26 Feb 2023 03.38 GMT
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New Zealand police are searching for eight people still missing, two weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle struck, as the nation’s weather forecaster said it was tracking two potential cyclones in the region and warned of “localised tornadoes” in parts of the North Island.
Police said early on Sunday: “The remaining number of people includes those who, for a variety of reasons, do not engage with authorities. Regardless, getting in touch with those remaining eight remains a priority for police, and our staff are exploring all avenues to try and locate them.”
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Gabrielle hit the island’s northern region on 12 February and then battered the east coast, leaving at least 11 dead and displacing thousands. More than 6,000 were missing in the immediate aftermath of the storm, with communications disrupted in many areas, but that number has fallen in the wake of recovery efforts.
