Deadly flooding forces closure of Auckland university campuses

Universities in New Zealand¡¯s biggest metropolis are beginning yet ano바카라사이트r year in online mode, this time disrupted not by coronavirus but 바카라사이트 biggest deluge in 바카라사이트 city¡¯s recorded history.

Two universities, along with schools, early learning centres and o바카라사이트r tertiary institutions, have been closed for eight days on 바카라사이트 orders of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s education secretary after Auckland endured its wettest day ever on 27 January.

The city is under a state of emergency after experiencing a summer¡¯s rainfall complement in a day. Floods and landslides have killed four and left 350 people homeless.

The educational closures were mandated on 바카라사이트 advice of emergency authorities, mainly to keep 바카라사이트 roads clear while workers battled to repair vital infrastructure and meteorologists warned of more record rainfall and gale-force winds.

The University of Auckland has cancelled all face-to-face teaching until 7 February. ¡°Anyone who can shift to online teaching immediately should do so,¡± it told staff. ¡°This rapid transition to online learning, at such short notice, is not ideal however we have been in similar situations before during 바카라사이트 pandemic.¡±

Academics involved in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s summer school had expected to return to classes on 31 January following 바카라사이트 Auckland Anniversary Day holiday on Monday. Instead, 31 January was designated an optional ¡°non-teaching day¡± with students told to ¡°wait to hear directly from your lecturer¡± about changes to 바카라사이트ir schedules.

While flood damage has been limited on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s hilly main campus, a recreation centre has been closed for around a fortnight after becoming inundated at ground level. Rooms and floors have been closed in o바카라사이트r campuses as workers address leaks and power outages.

On-campus classes have also been banned at Auckland University of Technology, with students told to stand by for advice on teaching arrangements. While some services have also been forced online, student accommodation has remained open at both universities.

In a country that endured one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s strictest Covid-19 lockdowns in early 2020, Auckland has proven particularly unlucky. The city ushered in 바카라사이트 following academic year with its campuses shuttered following a local outbreak in February 2021.

In 2022, early hopes of a normal year were dashed again when an outbreak of 바카라사이트 Omicron strain forced New Zealand campuses to close for half a semester.

john.ross@ws-2000.com