Cyclone Gabrielle: New storm warning as death toll rises with five people confirmed dead

Parts of Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne are being warned to brace for thunderstorms today as five people have been confirmed dead from Cyclone Gabrielle, with fears the death toll is set to rise.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the ranges of Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and parts of Bay of Plenty between 3pm and 10pm today.

MetService is warning a few of the thunderstorms could be severe with localised downpours of 25 to 40mm per hour and hail.

It comes as police said this morning they were investigating a death of a person in Gisborne who they believe was caught in floodwaters.

Gisborne’s Mayor Rehette Stoltz said she is "devastated" by the death and that the whole community is reeling.

Yesterday authorities confirmed the death of three people in Hawke’s Bay - a child in Eskdale, a woman in northern Hawke’s Bay and a person in Bay View - and one, a volunteer firefighter, in Muriwai, west of Auckland.

The full extent of the destruction - from the east coast regions of Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne to Auckland’s west coast beach settlements of Muriwai and Piha - is starting to dawn.

Police say 1442 people remain "uncontactable" on a missing-person database, and new images reveal wrecked roads and bridges, properties, and infrastructure.

More than 9,000 people have left their homes around Hawke’s Bay, with 3,000 of them staying in Civil Defense facilities.

Nearly 150,000 people were still without power across the North Island yesterday - and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council said this morning that Napier should expect to be without electricity for the next two weeks.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said State Highway 51, a vital link between Napier, Clive and Hastings, reopened at 8pm on Wednesday following an assessment by engineers.

State Highway 50, the Napier-Hastings Expressway, remains closed.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.