Police shut down social media speculation over Cyclone Gabrielle's death toll

"We have not found anyone else that has lost their life."
"We have not found anyone else that has lost their life." Photo credit: Newshub

Police have shut down social media speculation that the total number of deaths following Cyclone Gabrielle is higher than what is being publicly reported. 

A total of 11 people have died due to the cyclone. This number is made up of eight people in Hawke's Bay, one in Gisborne and two volunteer firefighters in Auckland.

But on social media, some people in Facebook community groups and locals posting to their personal profiles claimed morgues were full in Hawke's Bay and speculated that police weren't detailing the full extent of deaths. 

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Jeanette Park left no room for speculation on Wednesday, "categorically" confirming to Newshub there are no further deaths to report other than the nine already confirmed in her region.

"We have not found anyone else that has lost their life as we are going through our searching," Supt Park said. 

"I have no information to suggest that we are looking for bodies. We are going through the uncontactable list."

Supt Park said police are not looking for dead bodies, but looking to locate people who haven't been in contact with their whānau. 

"We won't leave any stone unturned."

Currently, around 400 people remain uncontactable eight days after Cyclone Gabrielle ripped through the top of the North Island. 

Supt Park assured the public police are "working as hard as we can" to locate the remaining uncontactable people.