WELLINGTON, April 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - New Zealand's national weather service warned Saturday to prepare for damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding in what it described as a potentially "life-threatening" event, as cyclone Vaianu approaches the country's North Island. The tropical cyclone is forecast to make landfall early Sunday, with residents living in coastal areas -- prone to heavy rain, rising seawater and strong winds of up to 130 kilometers -- being asked to evacuate as a precaution. Winds in excess of 100kmh had already been recorded Saturday, New Zealand's official forecaster MetService said in a statement on their website. "The combination of damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal inundation makes this a multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event," it said, adding that the most "severe impacts" will be "highly dependent on the cyclone's track". She said memories of deadly cyclone Gabrielle that battered New Zealand in 2023 meant residents understood the risks and accept when "you have to leave for safety".

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha April 11, 2026 08:50 UTC