WELLINGTON, Aug 18 ― Torrential rain slammed the west and north of New Zealand's South Island for a third straight day today, forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes and triggering road and school closures and land slips.
Weather forecaster Metservice's data showed part of the north of the South Island had received well over 300 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours. It has heavy rain warnings in place for parts of the west of the South Island and in the north of the North Island. On New Zealand's North Island, the country's largest city, Auckland, is under a heavy rain and winds alert, with minimal disruption reported so far.
A statement on Nelson City Council's website warned continuing rain could mean more land slips, flooding and evacuations.