New Zealand - Wildfires, update (media, JRC GWIS) (ECHO Daily Flash of 15 February 2024)

A number of wildfires continue to affect the Christchurch City area (Canterbury Region, eastern South Island, New Zealand) since the last 48 hours, causing population evacuation and damage.

The affected area are the Port Hill range and the Banks Peninsula (just south of Christchurch City) and the Selwyn District (north-west of Christchurch). A state of emergency is in place for the Christchurch City Council and the Selwyn District. As of 15 February, according to the JRC Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), the burnt area in the region around the Christchurch City reached nearly 1,500 ha.

Media reports, as of the same date, more than 110 evacuated families (of which some of these in two evacuation centre), one destroyed house and some damaged schools across the affected area.

Over the next 24 hours, according to the JRC GWIS, the fire danger forecast remains from moderate to high over the already affected area.