A busy main road in Invercargill has been closed after a large tree toppled onto the street.
Dramatic video shot by What’s On Invers showed the moment the tree collapsed onto Elles Rd, seemingly avoiding hitting any traffic.
Invercargill was under a red wind warning, with severe north-westerly gales gusting up to 120km/h in exposed areas.
Multiple roads, including the southbound lane of State Highway 6 between Don and Tay St, and SH1 East Rd between Mill Rd North and Racecourse Rd, were closed due to the weather.
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In an update this afternoon, the Invercargill City Council urged residents to: “Stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.”
Anyone in immediate danger was asked to call 111.
Power outages and damage to powerlines were reported across Invercargill and Bluff.
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“If you see damaged electrical equipment, stay well away,” the council said.
All parks in the city were closed, where trees and branches had come down. Several public buildings, including Splash Planet, the Civic Theatre, Bluff Service Centre, Te Hīnaki Civic Building, and Invercargill Transfer Station, were closed. “We will let you know when they are all reopened.”
Pine tree falls in front of vehicle north of Dunedin
Tommy Hasselman and fiancée narrowly missed being hit by the toppling tree on SH1 near Merten (Source: .Tommy Hasselman) (Source: Other)
Another dramatic video showed the moment a tree fell onto a main highway, north of Dunedin, seconds from crushing a car and its two occupants.
Tommy Hasselman told 1News he was driving with his fiancée home to Dunedin along SH1 near Merton when the tree came down right in front of them.
Thankfully, they avoided being crushed, called Fire and Emergency, cleared some pinecones and branches, and continued on their way.
Much of Otago was under an orange heavy rain warning, with damaging gusts of 130km/h in exposed places.
