New Zealand government on Monday announced emergency funding to help in the recovery efforts as it said the final cost of the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle, which has left at least 11 people dead, could rise above $8 billion.
The cyclone which has inflicted widespread destruction hit the North Island’s northernmost region on Feb. 12 and tracked down the east coast in later days, leaving destruction in its wake. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was the biggest natural disaster the country has faced this century.
“The required investment to reconnect our communities and future-proof our nation’s infrastructure is going to be significant and it will require hard decisions,” said Hipkins at a news conference where he announced an emergency NZ$300 million ($187.08 million) cyclone relief package.
Thia came after the Finance Minister Grant Robertson, who has now been appointed Cyclone Recovery Minister in addition to his existing portfolio, earlier on Monday said the total cost to government could be similar to the NZ$13.5 billion (8.42 billion) it spent rebuilding Christchurch after the devastating 2011 earthquake.
As more relief and re-building funding from the government is expected in the coming days, the extant package provides NZ$250 million to fix critical roads across disaster hit regions, while another NZ$50 million in emergency support was set aside for businesses and primary producers.
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The national state of emergency declared last week by the Prime Minister has been extended by a week to help the recovery and relief efforts and Police have confirmed 11 deaths in circumstances related to the cyclone, most of those have been in Hawke’s Bay in the North Island while about 2,200 people remains unaccounted for.
The number of deaths would likely rise, the country’s police commissioner Andrew Coster said when he featured on a television programme, adding that difficulty with communications is hampering efforts to make contact with affected people.
Recovery efforts are continuing with search and rescue teams still working in cyclone damaged areas, while power and telecommunications remain down for some homes. Roads are closed and people are reporting issues getting cash.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
