New Zealand capital Wellington flooded with faeces after wastewater failure

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WELLINGTON: Homes in New Zealand's capital were flooded with human waste and sanitary products after an overnight thunderstorm caused a catastrophic failure in the city’s wastewater system.

The disaster struck Wellington’s picturesque suburb of Island Bay on Friday when intense rainfall blocked a vital wastewater main, backing up raw sewage directly into local residential properties.

The severe storm dropped over 25 millimeters of rain in just two hours and unleashed more than 5,000 lightning strikes across the area. Emergency vacuum trucks were deployed to disinfect homes and remove the debris.

The utility company, Wellington Water, confirmed the storm also overwhelmed the city's main treatment facility, forcing millions of liters of untreated sewage into the ocean. Authorities have issued an urgent warning advising the public to completely avoid swimming or surfing along the coast.

Photo credits: AFP