New Zealanders evacuated from parts of coast as storm hits

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Hundreds of people in New Zealand have been evacuated from some coastal areas as the second major storm in just over a week made landfall near the North Island town of Whakatane.

But residents of the largest city, Auckland, breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as the remnants of Cyclone Cook moved past them to the east. Authorities had earlier worried the storm could hit the city and cause major problems.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff tweeted, “It seems Auckland has largely survived … unscathed.”

Civil defense authorities said people from about 250 homes in the beach town of Ohope were ordered to evacuate, while other households chose to leave. Authorities had earlier advised people in low elevations on the Coromandel Peninsula to evacuate to higher ground.

(Image from MetService, New Zealand’s designated National Meteorological Service with the World Meteorological Organisation)