Cyclone Gabrielle caused at least 11 confirmed deaths in New Zealand, making it one of the country’s deadliest weather disasters in recent decades.

Quick Scoop: Key Facts

  • Cyclone Gabrielle struck New Zealand’s North Island in February 2023, bringing extreme winds, flooding, and landslides.
  • In the immediate aftermath, authorities reported 9 confirmed deaths, including a child and two firefighters, as thousands of people were still uncontactable.
  • Subsequent official tallies and reviews of the event place the final confirmed death toll at at least 11 people, with most deaths occurring in the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions.

Why Numbers Differ

Reports during and just after the cyclone often quoted lower figures like 6 or 9 deaths because many communities were cut off and thousands of people were missing or uncontactable. As communication and access improved, authorities updated the official count, which is why newer overviews of Cyclone Gabrielle now refer to a higher confirmed toll.

Wider Impact Beyond The Toll

  • Tens of thousands lost power, roads and bridges were destroyed, and entire communities were isolated for days, prompting New Zealand’s prime minister to call it the country’s biggest natural disaster of this century.
  • Recovery and rebuilding in the worst-hit areas have continued well beyond 2023, and Cyclone Gabrielle is frequently cited in current climate and infrastructure resilience discussions in New Zealand.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.