Auckland flooding: Body found in missing boy's cave

The body of a boy who went missing on his way to school on Tuesday was found in a cave in New Zealand.

He was one of 17 people who managed to reach Abbey Cave despite the flooding in the Auckland area.

The first group was captured, but 14 students and two teachers escaped. The whereabouts of the child, aged between 15 and 16, is unknown.

New Zealand Police said the body was found late Tuesday, local time, but has yet to be identified.
New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, has declared a state of emergency after rain stranded cars, uprooted trees and disrupted public transport.

However, most of the previously closed roads were reopened on Wednesday and public transport services started.

Abbey Cave is one of three underground caverns on the North Island with limestone outcrops and sinkholes. The cave system is easy to flood.

The cave remained behind the police cordon on Wednesday, even though happy people left flowers there.
Minister Chris Hipkins argued, telling the New Zealand Herald that keeping kids out of school is “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

Director Tony Hill also acknowledged that the public needed answers to the “very disturbing” incident.

One wonders why the school will continue when the weather is rainy.

This group is from Whangārei Student College. School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith wrote on the school’s Facebook page on Wednesday: “Please know how sad we are that whānau [our family] lost someone. We love and cherish so much. This is very important to me, my son and brother. .
“

“The impact of this event was felt by our school staff, students and society.

New Zealand’s Auckland region has been rocked by several extreme weather events this year. It devastated New Zealand in February, killing 11 people and causing damage to Treasurer Grant Robertson compared to the damage caused by the Christchurch earthquake 12 years ago.