Guwahati: New Zealand had a powerful earthquake on Wednesday with a magnitude of 6.1 following the terrible Cyclone Gabrielle according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
The earthquake struck 78 kilometres northwest of Lower Hutt and close to Wellington at 7:38 p.m. (Local Time).
The earthquake’s epicentre was 50 kilometres away from Paraparaumu.
Meanwhile, three bodies were recovered after Cyclone Gabrielle lashed New Zealand, authorities said on Wednesday, warning that while the worst of the storm had passed, “we are not out of danger yet.”
“One body was found at the site where a firefighter went missing during the storm, and the remains of two others were recovered in the hard-hit Hawke’s Bay region,” said Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty.
In Hawke’s Bay, where floodwaters reached rooftop levels and two people died, hundreds of people were saved by the Defense Force, rescue agencies and private operators.
According to RNZ, a bank crashed onto a woman’s home in Putorino, northern Hawke’s Bay and she died as a result.
At the Hastings Sports Centres in Hawke’s Bay, where over 9000 people were evacuated due to flooding and damage from Cyclone Gabrielle, roughly 11 army trucks have arrived.
Children, seniors and others carrying laundry baskets full of goods and blankets are among the evacuees.
Residents of Hawke’s Bay are attempting to contact their lost loved ones despite continued power outages and inconsistent service.
As communication spread far on Tuesday when Cyclone Gabrielle wrecked devastation in the area, authorities have had trouble getting in touch with the appropriate people on the ground, according to RNZ.
Numerous users have posted on social media in an effort to find out more about their relatives and friends.