With recent snow followed by rain and now freezing temperatures, the South Island is experiencing a raft of traffic accidents and ice related broken bones and injuries.
The Southland Hospital emergency department was overwhelmed by dozens of people who broke bones and suffered minor injuries after people slipped on black ice that caused widespread disruptions throughout Southland and parts of Otago yesterday
Authorities are urging people to take extreme care and weather forecasters have warned that temperatures in the double minus digits are still predicted.
Road conditions are treacherous in many parts of Southland and Otago. Many locals and particularly tourists, who are not use to extreme winter driving conditions, have been involved in many traffic accidents.
Local police have reported accidents involving road ice and a disproportional amount of unsuspecting visitor drivers. Police warn motorists to slow down and leave travelling to later in the day when road ice has had a chance to soften as temperatures increase.
Other services, including flights in and out of Invercargill, Dunedin and Queenstown airports, have been either delayed or cancelled creating huge back loads of passengers during this busy school holiday period.
Tags: New Zealand by Road