Wellington Flooded Due to Heavy Rains, Low-lying Areas Evacuated
New Zealand's capital, Wellington, experienced historic heavy rainfall overnight, leading to severe flooding. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to evacuate. The mayor reported record rainfall of 77mm in under an hour, causing street closures and landslides. Some homes were buried by mudslides, and emergency services received numerous calls.
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- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 15:20
- 🔍 Collected: April 20, 2026 at 15:31 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 16:41 (1h 9m after Collected)
Heavy rains have continuously hit New Zealand, causing torrential floods in the capital, Wellington, overnight. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to evacuate today. Wellington Mayor Andrew Little told state broadcaster RNZ that the city recorded 77 millimeters of rain in less than an hour, the highest amount ever recorded. The floods have closed many streets in the city center and southern suburbs, and multiple landslides have occurred. Media reports indicate that some residents were forced to evacuate overnight due to flooded homes, and at least one house was buried by a landslide. Emergency evacuation measures have been implemented in multiple streets within the city. Fire and emergency response units stated they received 150 calls for help overnight. Police issued a statement saying that rescue personnel are searching for a man whose home was submerged in the suburb of Karori. Reuters reported that the weather briefly improved this morning, with some areas seeing receding water levels, but heavy rain has since returned to the city. MetService, New Zealand's weather agency, has warned that rainfall may intensify later today. (Compiled by Ji Jinling) 1150420. Stand with facts. Your sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom. Download the CNA 'One-stop News' APP for the latest updates. This website's text, images, and audio files may not be reproduced, broadcast, or transmitted without authorization. Keywords: