Wellington – Qena:
The New Zealand authorities evacuated hundreds of residents from homes overlooking the sea in the capital, Wellington, after the coastal areas were exposed to huge waves reaching a height of about 11 meters, accompanied by strong winds that caused widespread disruptions in the transportation and services sectors.
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little declared a local state of emergency in a number of coastal neighbourhoods, including Uhero Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay, in response to meteorological warnings of high-risk waves and strong winds.
Mandatory evacuation orders entered into force this morning, as police forces were deployed to supervise the movement of residents to higher and safer areas. The authorities also closed roads leading to coastal areas and prevented access to them.
For its part, the New Zealand Meteorological Authority reported that the waves that entered Wellington Harbor reached a height of about 11 meters, while the Island Bay area witnessed strong winds and waves that swept coastal roads.
The severe weather conditions also caused disruption to transportation, as several flights to and from Wellington Airport were canceled after wind gusts reaching speeds of 128 kilometers per hour were recorded, while InterIlander and Blue Bridge suspended some ferry services across the Cook Strait.
The authority explained that these strong waves resulted from a deep depression and a strong sea storm in the South Pacific Ocean and southern New Zealand, which led to the generation of long-period waves that reached the southern coast of Wellington at exceptional heights, accompanied by stormy winds that increased their impact on coastal areas and infrastructure.
She stressed that this weather phenomenon is not linked to any seismic activity or tsunami waves, including the earthquake that struck the Philippines yesterday, Monday, noting that the warnings and precautionary measures were based on meteorological forecasts of strong waves and strong winds.
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little declared a local state of emergency in a number of coastal neighbourhoods, including Uhero Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay, in response to meteorological warnings of high-risk waves and strong winds.
Mandatory evacuation orders entered into force this morning, as police forces were deployed to supervise the movement of residents to higher and safer areas. The authorities also closed roads leading to coastal areas and prevented access to them.
For its part, the New Zealand Meteorological Authority reported that the waves that entered Wellington Harbor reached a height of about 11 meters, while the Island Bay area witnessed strong winds and waves that swept coastal roads.
The severe weather conditions also caused disruption to transportation, as several flights to and from Wellington Airport were canceled after wind gusts reaching speeds of 128 kilometers per hour were recorded, while InterIlander and Blue Bridge suspended some ferry services across the Cook Strait.
The authority explained that these strong waves resulted from a deep depression and a strong sea storm in the South Pacific Ocean and southern New Zealand, which led to the generation of long-period waves that reached the southern coast of Wellington at exceptional heights, accompanied by stormy winds that increased their impact on coastal areas and infrastructure.
She stressed that this weather phenomenon is not linked to any seismic activity or tsunami waves, including the earthquake that struck the Philippines yesterday, Monday, noting that the warnings and precautionary measures were based on meteorological forecasts of strong waves and strong winds.
