New Zealand cyclone death toll rises to 11; 28,000 homes without power

The body of a breast cancer survivor that went missing in New Zealand’s floods has been located amid fears the death toll will climb further.

The body of a cancer survivor last seen disappearing under floodwaters has been found as the death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand continues to climb.

Susane Caccioppoli was last seen by her boyfriend on Tuesday morning as water inundated the Esk Valley house they were house sitting.

It’s believed her body was found washed up on a beach.

Her daughter Bianka-lee Bryan revealed her mother had been dealt a blow in the past few years with the death of her husband and a battle with breast cancer, resulting in 11 surgeries in the last 15 years.

“She was always our precious dove. The last few years in particular have been the hardest for her following the death of her loving husband, and our devoted Father,” Ms Bryan said in a heartfelt tribute on social media.

“She remained the super glue that held our family together with her inexhaustible love, no matter the troubles in her life.”

A house lays destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle in the Esk Valley near Napier. Picture: AFP

The death toll from New Zealand’s largest natural disaster this century has reached 11 but Prime Minister Chris Hipkins warned “more fatalities remain possible”.

Speaking at a press conference in Wellington on Sunday afternoon, Mr Hipkins said about 28,000 homes were still without power, almost a week after Cyclone Gabrielle ripped through the North Island.

“Lives have been turned upside down, many people have seen their homes and all of their possessions completely destroyed,” he said.

“Countless others have been displaced. Tragically 11 people have lost their lives and more fatalities remain possible. 6451 people have been reported to police as unaccounted for. We know that 3216 are okay and police are working hard to reconcile the others.”

An aerial view shows the damage left by Cyclone Gabrielle in the Esk Valley near Napier. Picture: AFP

A 10-day rāhui (ban) has been placed on Hawke’s Bay due to concerns kōiwi (human remains) may have been washed to the sea.

A team of 27 Australian emergency responders have arrived in New Zealand to help with the recovery efforts, and the bulk are already on the ground in Hawkes Bay. Two are based at the national emergency co-ordination centre, Mr Hipkins said.

“Their main focus will be on helping to contact those who are not yet accounted for,” he said.

The Australian Defence Force is also expected to provide the services of an aircraft in the coming days.

He said New Zealand had also accepted Fiji’s offer of support, which includes 10 defence force personnel, revealing there have been “a dozen or so offers of international assistance”.

Mr Hipkins paid tribute to New Zealand emergency personnel for their response to the disaster.

“Emergency services and first responders have done us all proud, many have worked themselves to the point of utter exhaustion,” he said.

“The stress and strain of the past week is clearly starting to show, particularly in areas where power and communications remain disrupted.

“None of us should underestimate the psychological toll this disaster is taking on some of our fellow kiwis – the past week has pushed many to their limit. Our resilience is being tested like never before.”

A car stuck in sand is seen in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in the Esk Valley near Napier. Picture: AFP

He also announced he would not be attending the Pacific Island Forum Special Leaders’ Retreat, to be held in Fiji on February 23-24. Deputy PM Carmel Sepuloni will go in his place.

“I don’t believe that now is the time for me as prime minister to be heading in another direction,” he said.

After almost a week without power in some areas, the PM conceded stress levels were high and police were working to maintain law and order.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Picture: Getty Images

More than 50 people have been arrested for looting and other dishonesty offences.

“I know how hard this is, but I ask everyone to remain calm, everyone is working as hard as they can to get everything back on line,” Mr Hipkins said.

Cyclone Gabrielle’s financial toll on New Zealand is expected to be huge, and Mr Hipkins conceded the country had “under-invested in infrastructure” for too long “and that has to change.”

When asked by reporters about the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on the Government’s budget, he did not give an estimate, but warned it would require “significant late budget decisions … to make sure resources are allocated where needed”.

“This is going to be big. We know we’re going to have to refocus and reprioritise,” he said.

Originally published as New Zealand cyclone death toll rises to 11; 28,000 homes without power