Updated February 04, 2020 09:46:41 <\/p>\n
Evacuations are underway on New Zealand's south island where tourists have been stranded after severe flooding and heavy rain.<\/p>\n
TVNZ reported a landslide hit the Howden Hut, near Fiordland's Lake Howden, at 1:30am (local time), leaving two people with minor injuries.<\/p>\n
Emergency Management Southland said 31 people at the site were safe and awaiting evacuation.<\/p>\n
Emergency Management Southland controller Angus McKay said the priority today was getting those 31 people out, as well as others at other huts on various tracks.<\/p>\n
A state of emergency was declared on Monday as 382 people were trapped in the Fiordland region, including visitors and staff at a lodge and on tourist boats.<\/p>\n
\"They have plenty of food and are safe and warm,\" Mr McKay said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Torrential rains causing slips and flooding damage have also cut road access to the popular tourist destination for several days.<\/p>\n
Today, helicopter pilots also started evacuating people from huts in Hollyford, Pyke, Big Bay and Martin's Bay.<\/p>\n
About 100 people are believed stranded at those walking tracks.<\/p>\n
There are another 195 tourists in Milford Sound who will remain there until tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\"Weather conditions and road closures mean it is best to keep the tourists in Milford until they can be safely transported out,\" Emergency Management Southland wrote on Facebook.<\/p>\n
\"Meanwhile, roads are closed throughout Southland and rivers are rising.\"<\/p>\n
More heavy rain is on the way and the state highway is expected to remain closed all week.<\/p>\n
The spectacular fjord on the west coast of the south island was carved out by ancient glaciers and features towering mountains, waterfalls, and rare marine habitats.<\/p>\n
Reuters\/ABC<\/p>\n
Topics:weather,disasters-and-accidents,storm-disaster,floods,landslide,new-zealand<\/p>\n
First posted February 04, 2020 09:45:26 <\/p>\n
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Stranded tourists airlifted from rain-ravaged areas of New Zealand's south island - ABC News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Updated February 04, 2020 09:46:41 Evacuations are underway on New Zealand's south island where tourists have been stranded after severe flooding and heavy rain. TVNZ reported a landslide hit the Howden Hut, near Fiordland's Lake Howden, at 1:30am (local time), leaving two people with minor injuries. Emergency Management Southland said 31 people at the site were safe and awaiting evacuation. Continue reading