In pictures: Floods, snow and wild weather lash the South Island

A fierce winter storm has wreaked havoc across Otago in New Zealand's South Island, causing significant flooding, forcing evacuations, and leading to road closures due to heavy rain, snow, and gale-force winds. The extreme weather has disrupted daily life and highlighted the vulnerability of the region to severe climatic events. This situation underscores the urgent need for better infrastructure resilience and preparedness to tackle the increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions driven by climate change.