WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Parts of New Zealand declared an emergency Tuesday as a powerful storm hit, causing flooding and forcing some people to evacuate their homes. The storm system is the remnants of Cyclone Gita, which last week ripped through the Pacific nation of Tonga, destroying homes, churches and the historic Parliament House. The winds have weakened as the storm has arced through the Pacific, but the weather is still causing disruptions in New Zealand. National carrier Air New Zealand canceled flights Tuesday afternoon from the capital, Wellington, in anticipation of the storm, while the city of Christchurch declared an emergency. Dozens of schools have been closed and power outages were affecting thousands of homes late Tuesday.

Source: Washington Post February 20, 2018 09:12 UTC