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AUCKLAND – A precautionary state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand’s most northern region as parts of the country prepare for more extreme weather.
Emergency service personnel in Northland are warning the area could see unprecedented levels of rain over Tuesday into Wednesday.
The warnings come after the city of Auckland was hit hard by flooding on Friday.
Four people were killed and thousands of homes have been damaged.
There are concerns that further heavy rainfall forecast for Tuesday could cause even more destruction to the city due to blocked storm water drains.
Physical attendance at Auckland schools has been suspended until 7 February in anticipation of further bad weather and the need to keep roads clear to repair critical infrastructure.
Auckland Airport, where hundreds of people were left stranded after all international and domestic flights were grounded on Friday, has sandbags and pumps ready in preparation for more potential flooding.
Parts of some major motorways north of Auckland remain closed due to large slips caused by Friday’s downpour and local media are reporting that new ones are now blocking roads. (BBC)
