New Zealand is preparing for a hurricane "Vaiano" Evacuation orders are issued for residents of the North Island

Thousands of New Zealanders were ordered to evacuate their homes today, Saturday, as the country’s North Island prepares to receive "Vaiano"which the authorities warned could cause coastal flooding and landslides.

The country’s meteorological authority said: " Hurricane "Vaiano" Which is expected to bring heavy rain and winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour, it is expected to sweep the country tomorrow, Sunday, and then pass west of the remote Chatham Islands on Monday."

A state of emergency was declared in several areas today, as the authorities ordered the evacuation of some parts of the city of Whakatane, which has a population of 37,150 people, and is located about 430 kilometers north of the capital, Wellington.

It is reported that Hurricane "Gabriel" Hit New Zealand in 2023; Which caused the death of 11 people and the displacement of thousands in one of the largest natural disasters the country has witnessed in this century.