🔗 Share this article Fierce Winds Leave Tens of Thousands In the Dark in New Zealand Residents advised to stay indoors as powerful gusts batter the country. Powerful winds reaching speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in nearly 90,000 homes experiencing outages and forced authorities to cancel more than 100 flights, according to domestic outlets. The gales are affecting the entire southern region and lower areas of the northern region, per the country's meteorological service. The nation's agencies have announced rare red wind warnings - the highest alert level - in core zones including Wellington and Canterbury. People have been advised to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and get ready for more power and communication outages. Widespread Destruction and Emergency Measures This outage appears to be affecting residences mainly in the South Island, while officials say that the electricity supply was being slowly brought back. Domestic outlets have stated that in some places roofs have been ripped off houses, while utility poles and vegetation have been toppled by the gusts. In Wellington, a man was lost his life after being impacted by a wooden fragment at a popular trail walking spot on Tuesday. Also in the capital, a woman was swept into approaching vehicles on a street by a strong gust of wind, in a event that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage. Flights in and out of the urban area have been suspended because of the weather, and some roads and libraries are also closed. At the same time Canterbury officials have issued a crisis declaration, to assist emergency management operations. A large portion of New Zealand faces severe weather warnings. Work Stoppages Amid Severe Weather The powerful gales on today coincide with numerous of teachers, doctors and other public workers are participating in what has been described as a "significant labor action", requesting improved salaries and workplace environments. But the intense climate has pressured them to alter certain arrangements, with various open-air gatherings shifted to interior venues or abandoned. Similar gusts are impacting the nearby nation, causing a heatwave to the country's outback. Agencies have issued flame prohibitions for fear of wildfires.