A state of emergency was declared in Auckland on Friday evening by the city’s mayor, Wayne Brown, due to rising flooding following heavy rains in the New Zealand capital, just 36 hours after the start of the Sale Program New Zealand Bloodstock National Annual.
Prolonged heavy rainfall, estimated to be an entire summer’s rainfall in a single day, has caused at least one death, as parts of the city experienced the wettest day on record.
The international airport terminal in the city was forced to close at one point due to rising floodwater levels inside the building, causing flights to be suspended and passengers diverted to Christchurch. Authorities said there would be no flights to or from Auckland until noon today.
The majority of industry participants attending NZB’s six-day sale in Karaka, in Auckland’s southern district, arrived in the city ahead of the start of Book 1 on Sunday.
However, those with late travel plans may be affected. Major roads in the city have been blocked, including Highway 1, which has closed in some sections of the Northern and Southern Expressways, the latter of which is about 25 kilometers north of the Karaka sales complex. north.
I’ve lived in Auckland for 33 years and don’t think I’ve ever seen rain like this. Check this out…. https://t.co/rqADJzdlFt
– Michael Guerin (@GuerinSports) January 27, 2023
The sale, as of the evening of January 27, is expected to continue as planned. On-site inspections at the Karaka sales complex have been carried out since Wednesday.
Brown declared a state of emergency at 9:54 p.m. NZDT last night, as more than 400 mm of rain was reported to have fallen in just one day.
“This is going to be a night of terror for thousands of Aucklanders and their families,” Brown said shortly after declaring the state of emergency. “My thoughts go out to those affected Aucklanders, many of whom have been evacuated from their homes and have a difficult night ahead.”
