Elderly woman dies after tree topples
CAMBRIDGE: A woman who was trapped under a tree in Cambridge as wild weather swept up the North Island yesterday has died.
A police spokesman confirmed the death of the woman, who was critically injured after being trapped by a falling pin oak in Cambridge.
Residents in Victoria, Queen, Hall, Wilson and Dick Sts reported small tornadoes in the area.
The Waipa District Council said ‘‘freakishly high winds’’ ripped the healthy tree out of the ground in Victoria Square and the woman was trapped beneath it.
The woman suffered critical injuries and had to be freed from under the fallen tree by firefighters.
Police said the woman died in hospital.
The large tree, which was about 80 years old, toppled over on to a picnic table.
Northern Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Jordan Barnett said a fire appliance and two support vehicles also responded. The woman was ‘‘removed from the tree’’ about 10.50am, about 45 minutes after police were told of the incident.
Further south, a tornado hit Levin yesterday.
State Highway 1 was closed for a time, roofing was ripped off and trees, powerlines and vegetable crops were damaged after a small tornado was reported to have swept through the Horowhenua town yesterday morning.
It was accompanied by thunderstorms and wind gusting up to 140kmh, and was thought to have damaged 30 to 50 homes.
In a statement yesterday afternoon, Emergency Management Minister Kiri Allan confirmed the Government would put $100,000 into a mayoral relief fund.
She said such funds had been used in the past to help with cleanup and recovery efforts such as clearing debris, cleaning septic tanks, filling water tanks and reestablishing damaged boundary fences.
‘‘I know that this has caused considerable damage and been extremely disruptive to the Levin community. While it’s too early to know the full cost of the damage, this initial contribution will help ensure there is minimal delay in supporting those who need it,’’ she said.
Other support might be available from the Ministries of Social Development and Primary Industries.
Some Levin growers were hit hard by the hail and thunderstorm, one likening the damage to a shotgun blast to the vegetables.
People in the area described a mini tornado hitting early yesterday, ripping trees up and roofs off and sending debris — including a whole garage — flying.
The MetService said that during a sixhour period yesterday morning there were about 12,000 lightning strikes around the country.
Some growers say the hail was as deep as 15cm, destroying fields of crops and covered seedlings, and that was likely to cause ongoing supply issues.
Vegetables New Zealand chairman John Murphy told RNZ the Horowhenua region supplied about 20% of some green vegetables, ‘‘so this will have an effect on national supplies, unfortunately’’.
‘‘You’re talking about greens — broccoli, celery and cabbage I’ve heard have been particularly affected.
‘‘But we really need to talk to people next week and assess the damage properly before we can speak too much.’’
It had been difficult to contact growers yesterday because they were in cleanup mode, Mr Murphy said.
‘‘The ones we have been able to get hold of have told us of pretty widespread damage — whereas 400m away sometimes their crops are fine.
‘‘In one location they have seen hail as deep as 15cm.’’
While growers usually had insurance to cover equipment, crops were at the mercy of the weather, he said.
Mr Murphy hoped other regions could help fill the produce gap. —