WELLINGTON, New Zealand – WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Areas of New Zealand were hit by dangerous winds for second time in a week On Thursday, howling storms canceled hundreds of flights, caused power outages and forced school closures.
The storms were worst in the lower North Island, where the capital Wellington is located, and parts of the South Island, including the city of Christchurch. National weather forecaster MetService published rare red wind warningsthe highest alert level for several regions.
No deaths or serious injuries were reported. As another weather system hit the country on Monday, a Wellington man was struck and killed by a falling tree branch.
Thursday's rout also disrupted planned rallies by health and education workers in what was likely the country's biggest industrial strike in decades. More than 100,000 workers represented by four unions walked off the job for four hours after months of negotiations with the government over wages and conditions broke down.
More than 200 flights across New Zealand were canceled on Thursday as wind speeds of 140 to 160 km (87 to 100 mph) were reported in some urban areas of New Zealand, with gusts reaching 230 km (143 mph) in one remote rural part of the South Island.
Tens of thousands of properties in different parts of the country were left without electricity. The wind toppled trees, tore off roofs and, in the city of Dunedin, overturned shipping containers at the port.
Dangerous winds also led to the closure of some highways. The South Island's remote west coast has been cut off after flooding closed the only routes into the area.
Some rallies across the country for teachers, doctors and nurses whose unions had planned a coordinated strike on Thursday were canceled due to the weather. Union leaders said workers were still on strike, even where demonstrations had been called off.
Thousands of people still marched in the cities of Oakland and Hamilton, and hundreds demonstrated in smaller towns unaffected by the bad weather.
Hospitals and emergency rooms remained open to the public, but the government health agency urged people not to seek medical attention unless the matter was urgent. Medical staff at one hospital in Nelson returned to work during a strike when high winds cut off power to the hospital.
In the days leading up to the strike, ministers from New Zealand's centre-right government, which has often been at odds with workers' unions, criticized the action as politically motivated. Union leaders rejected the accusations, saying they had also carried out strikes during the previous centre-left government.
About half of those who left their jobs were teachers, while the rest were doctors, dentists, nurses, social workers and other health practitioners. Their demands varied across industries, but the main grievances that prompted the strike were wages, staffing levels and working conditions.
The moves come as the government sharply cuts public spending and record numbers of New Zealanders are leaving the country – particularly in neighboring Australia, where medical practitioners are attracted by higher salaries and lower living costs.
Several major highways remained closed on Thursday evening and residents in parts of the South Island remained on alert as rivers rose and threatened to overflow their banks. The winds should subside by Friday, although authorities urged travelers to be careful.
Fireworks and fire bans have been imposed across much of the country and will remain in place until the end of the week, the national fire service said. Strong winds sparked wildfires during storms on Monday and Thursday, and firefighters were unable to extinguish the worst of the fires by Thursday evening.
New Zealand's location in southern latitudes and mountain ranges running the length of the country. can cause wild weather within a year.
