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A person died after being hit by a tree branch in a city park on Tuesday due to stormy weather in the New Zealand capital.
Dangerous winds and heavy rain disrupted travel, closed schools and cut power in parts of the country. Inbound and outbound flights canceled due to wind Wellington They remained idle for several hours before they began again for bumpy take-offs and landings. The storm also halted passenger ferry operations.
The man who died was injured on Mount Victoria, a popular walking route in the central city.
Authorities have urged residents to stay away from the city’s parks and sanctuaries due to the danger of falling trees. Dashcam video taken by a motorist on Tuesday morning showed a pedestrian being thrown by the wind onto the road, where he narrowly missed being hit by oncoming cars.
The MetService weather agency said winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph) were recorded in the Kelburn area. Wellington is New Zealand’s windiest city and is known for its strong winds, but the winds were strong even by the capital’s standards.
Nearly 10,000 properties in the neighboring rural area of Wairarapa were without power, according to local Lines Company figures. schools And businesses in the area were closed for the day.
Throughout Tuesday the lower North Island, where Wellington is located, and most South Island Were subject to wind or rain warnings. In christchurch The storm disrupted flights on the South Island on Tuesday afternoon.
Some state highways on both islands were closed due to flooding and landslides. In Hawke’s Bay on the North Island, winds toppled a truck, injuring one person and causing road closures, officials said.
New Zealand’s southern latitude and location in the mountain ranges that run the length of the country can create wild weather throughout the year. MetService said the storm was expected to subside on Wednesday, before a more severe weather system was expected on Thursday.