🔗 Share this article Fierce Winds Leave Tens of Thousands Without Power in the Island Nation Residents encouraged to remain inside as powerful gusts lash the country. Severe gales hitting speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 households lacking electricity and led authorities to call off more than 100 aircraft departures, as reported by domestic outlets. These gusts are affecting the entire South Island and lower areas of the northern region, as stated by the weather forecasting body. New Zealand authorities have announced rare severe gust advisories - the top caution category - in core zones such as Canterbury and Wellington. People have been encouraged to avoid going outside, stay off roads, and prepare for additional electricity and network failures. Extensive Impact and Emergency Response This outage is primarily influencing households mostly in the South Island, while authorities report that power was being gradually reinstated. Domestic outlets have reported that in various locations homes have lost their roofs, and power lines and trees have been toppled by the gusts. In Wellington, a person was lost his life after being impacted by a falling limb at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week. Meanwhile in Wellington, a woman was swept into oncoming traffic on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a event that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage. Air travel to and from the urban area have been halted because of the winds, while certain highways and community centers are shut down. At the same time Canterbury officials have declared a state of emergency, to assist recovery activities. Significant areas in New Zealand faces extreme climate alerts. Strike Action Amid Severe Weather The wild winds on today occur while tens of thousands of teachers, doctors and other public workers take part in what has been described as a "mega strike", requesting higher wages and enhanced employment terms. Yet the intense climate has pressured them to alter various scheduled activities, with various open-air gatherings relocated inside or abandoned. Similar gusts are also sweeping the neighboring country, bringing a heatwave to the nation's interior regions. Agencies have declared flame prohibitions for concern about wildfires.