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New Zealand has declared a national state of emergency for the third time in its history as Cyclone Gabriel continues to rage, Reuters reported.

Earlier, the measures were imposed for some areas. 

"It's been a big night for New Zealanders across the country, but especially in the upper North Island - many families are displaced, many homes are without power, there's extensive damage across the country," Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.

Gabriel is 100 km east of Auckland, near the east coast of the country's North Island, and is expected to move east-southeast.

Kieran McAnulty, the emergency management minister, said although New Zealand was now in the worst part of the storm, more rain and strong winds were expected.

The country suffers from floods, landslides and damage to roads and infrastructure, he said.

Bad weather will grip the upper South Island as the cyclone moves through, the forecaster said.

Authorities have evacuated beach villages and are still asking people to leave their homes as rivers continue to swell and the tide rises.

Roads are closed, cell phone service is down and some towns are cut off.

Thousands without power in New Zealand due to storm

Hipkins said it was too early to say how many people were displaced or injured.

There are no confirmed deaths.

Local media published photos and videos of people in distress.

It comes weeks after Oakland and surrounding areas were hit by record rainfall that caused flooding and killed four people.

New Zealand declared a national emergency after an earthquake in 2011 and when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020.