Operations at Christchurch Airport have been paused, leading to the cancellation of flights in and out of the city due to severe weather.<\/p>\n
An Air New Zealand spokesperson said this evening it was too early to know how many\u00a0 flights and passengers may be affected, or when flights could resume.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Christchurch is under a\u00a0strong wind watch until 6pm as parts of the country is battered by severe weather.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, firefighters have put out a scrub fire on an overbridge near the airport, which has closed part of State Highway 1.<\/p>\n
Crews from airport and Ilam stations were called to the blaze near Memorial Ave about 2.15pm today.<\/p>\n
Smoke could be seen coming from an area under the\u00a0road’s Gateway Bridge.<\/p>\n
The fire started on a median strip, then spread to an embankment between the suburbs of Harewood and Russley.<\/p>\n
It is causing major traffic delays and the southbound lane is closed near the Memorial Ave offramp.<\/p>\n
The northbound lanes on SH1 remained open, but authorities said caution is needed when travelling through the area.<\/p>\n
Fire and Emergency NZ have urged people not to do anything that could spark a blaze in these windy conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
– Star News and RNZ\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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