[chris]

Heavy rain on Friday, January 27, caused widespread flooding in Auckland, New Zealand.

Rainfall reached 1 to 2 inches per hour for three to four hours, and parts of the city received more than 10 inches in less than a day. Roads flooded during the evening commute, people became trapped in vehicles, and many cars were seen floating away.

Several terminals at the city's airport, the largest in New Zealand, were ankle-deep in water. Videos showed travelers wading through terminals, and thousands camped out there overnight because of the flooding.

Transport authorities closed parts of State Highway 1 on Friday evening. Homes were widely damaged, many residents were evacuated, and several homes were left teetering on cliff-faces after landslides.

Local authorities advised people to stay home and not go out unless absolutely necessary.