Sharjah24 - AFP: On Thursday, New Zealand sent gunships and helicopters to bring water, food, and gasoline to cities cut off by Cyclone Gabrielle as overburdened officials accepted international aid.
Five people have died, 100 are missing and 10,500 more have been displaced in a disaster that has crippled the country's populous North Island.
Four days of violent winds and lashing rains caused landslides and widespread flooding that lacerated the island's road network, caused rolling power cuts and knocked out hundreds of mobile phone towers.
On Thursday, the east-coast city of Napier was cut off again after experts detected damage to the last useable bridge linking its 65,000 residents with the rest of the country.
Isolated residents have been told not to leave their homes unless "absolutely essential" and to restrict water use.
When residents do venture out, they wade through murky floodwaters to get supplies or huddle on the steps of a few buildings that still have wifi, trying to get in touch with loved ones.
Around the city, petrol stations have put up signs declaring there is "NO FUEL" for anyone other than emergency services.
For an optimal experience, please
