Wellington: Several people, including children, are missing after a massive landslide struck the Beachside Holiday Park at the base of Mount Maunganui in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty region on Thursday.
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell confirmed that search and rescue operations are ongoing. He described the event as a “tragedy,” noting that parents and the husband of some of those currently being rescued were at the campground at the time of the incident.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand commander William Pike said rescuers initially heard voices under the debris, but no further contact has been made, and no survivors have yet been found.
The landslide swept through campervans, cars, tents, hot pools, and a shower block at around 9:30 a.m. local time, prompting evacuations across the site. Emergency services are continuing efforts to locate anyone who may still be trapped.
The landslip followed Tauranga’s heaviest single day of rainfall on record, with 270mm recorded in the 24 hours leading up to 9 a.m. Heavy rain and flooding overnight have affected parts of the North Island, leaving thousands without power and isolating communities along the east coast and in Northland.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents in affected areas to follow local authorities’ safety instructions amid the extreme conditions. He wrote on social media: “Extreme weather continues to cause dangerous conditions across the North Island. Right now, the government is doing everything we can to support those impacted.”
New Zealand has faced destructive storms and flooding this week, with the Mount Maunganui area recording its wettest day on record—two-and-a-half months’ worth of rain falling in just 12 hours.
Mayor Mahe Drysdale described the landslide as a “deeply distressing event” and said ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those involved is the top priority.
With IANS inputs