Natural Disasters
Homes catch fire as lava spills onto town in Iceland
Lava from a volcano eruption has poured into the fishing town of Grindavik.
Lower Hutt back on its feet after 'mini-tornado'
Mayor Campbell Barry said luckily the damage was "in a pretty contained area". Audio
Victoria weather warnings as heavy rain across state causes flooding
Victoria has been battered by heavy rain and flooding, with residents in parts of the towns of Seymour and Yea being urged to evacuate.
Japan quake rescuers race against time as survival limit nears
Thousands of rescuers pressed on in their search for survivors of a New Year's Day quake that killed at least 77 people in Japan, hoping to save as many within a three-day window.
Parks, reserves still waiting for fixes a year on
Uncertainty still looms over parks, hit in Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary floods.
Rescue efforts continue following deadly Japan earthquake
The death toll from a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's Noto Peninsula on Monday has risen to 55, as efforts continue to try and reach people feared trapped under the rubble of collapsed… Audio
Magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes Japan, residents evacuate
A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.6 has hit central Japan, triggering a tsunami warning and evacuations as residents prepare for possible aftershocks.
Eight dead, one missing in Australia after severe thunderstorms
The East Coast has been battered by storms over the Christmas holidays, with tens of thousands of properties still without power.
Lessons from a year of floods
Communities devastated by severe weather in 2023 are facing hard decisions. Kate Green investigates.
Should renters be told about property risks?
An impending law change means councils must disclose natural hazard risks to prospective home buyers - but what about tenants?.
Design to improve quake-prone hospital buildings still not done
The council notices require the earthquake-prone buildings to be strengthened or replaced by November 2028.
New pods in marae to help prepare for natural disasters
Emergency pods will be set up at 24 marae in the South Island in a bid to be better prepared in the face of a natural disaster.
Epicentre was in subzero temperatures when quake in China occurred
A magnitude-6.2 earthquake has jolted a remote and mountainous county on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.
Four weeks' wait for counselling for Aucklanders hit by February floods
Aucklanders struggling with stress and trauma of storm wrecked homes are having to wait up to four weeks for counselling.
Some say they've hit rock bottom after learning they will not have certainty… Audio
Napier's flooding risks for next 75 years mapped
A new report has revealed large swathes of Napier will be at risk of seawater flooding in the next 75 years. The council says it'll now have to include that information on LIMs.
Flood-hit Akl homeowners struggling to pay mortgages and rent
Some Auckland homeowners are struggling to pay the mortgage on their storm-damaged homes, and rent for the house they're living in, after being denied weekly accommodation support. They want the… Audio
Country needs better emergency management - Ombudsman
A new Ombudsman report says the country needs a better emergency management system for responding to extreme weather. Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier visited communities affected by the severe weather… Audio
Storms exposed holes in emergency management - report
The chief ombudsman says the country has work to do to build a robust emergency management system.
Hikers recount escape from 'Mountain of Fire' eruption
What started out as a fun expedition up one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes took a deadly turn.
Reignited fireworks blaze brought under control
The fire, near the Clyde Dam, reignited late on Saturday afternoon from an earlier fire started by fireworks on Friday night.
