Cyclone Gabrielle: fresh storm warnings for New Zealand’s worst-hit regions as death toll rises to five

Flood waters in paddocks in Awatoto, near Napier, Hawke’s Bay. Cyclone Gabrielle has caused widespread destruction across New Zealand's North Island with towns cut off, thousands of people ‘uncontactable’ and many more without power. Photograph: Kerry Marshall/Getty Images

At least five people have died and evacuations are continuing as fresh storm warnings are announced in regions of New Zealand already devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle and the prime minister warns of the likelihood of further fatalities.

As of 2.30pm on Thursday, 3,455 people had been registered by police as “uncontactable”, with some likely to be multiple reports for the same person.