Emergency response teams in New Zealand are in the midst of an urgent search for individuals missing after a catastrophic landslide hit a busy campground on the North Island. The natural disaster, triggered by relentless rainfall, struck Mount Maunganui around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, burying multiple recreational vehicles and structures beneath a deluge of earth and debris, while families were enjoying their summer vacation.
The landslide has sadly resulted in the confirmed deaths of two people, one of whom has been identified as a citizen of China, a fact confirmed by Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong. While New Zealand authorities have not provided official details regarding the victims, local police have reported that nine people, including children, are still unaccounted for.
Photographs from the scene depict the extensive damage, with collapsed vehicles and destroyed buildings evident throughout the campsite. Amid the ongoing search and rescue operations, which have continued through the night, Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale expressed the emotional strain on families waiting for updates about their loved ones. “It’s really hard,” Drysdale remarked. “We’re here with the families, and as you can imagine, just that uncertainty of where they are and when we might have a result is pretty hard.”
The instability of the area has made rescue efforts increasingly precarious, leading Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell to characterize the conditions as particularly challenging. He noted that authorities are investigating the possibility that some campers managed to evacuate without alerting officials.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers underscored the difficulties faced during rescue operations, stating that the severity of the disaster presents significant hazards, which could hinder progress. “It could be days,” he cautioned, addressing the distress families experience while waiting for news about their missing loved ones.
This landslide is part of a wider pattern of severe weather that has devastated much of the North Island’s east coast, resulting in widespread flooding and additional landslides. Earlier this week, a separate landslide in nearby Papamoa also resulted in two fatalities, and a man was swept away in his vehicle north of Auckland. Several roads in areas hit hardest remain closed, complicating access and hindering relief efforts.
Authorities are encouraging residents to exercise caution as reports emerge of individuals traversing landslide areas to reach welfare stations for access to essential supplies. They continue to stress the risks involved and the likelihood of further landslides in the region.
As the search for the missing continues, there remains a flicker of hope that rescuers will provide more information in the coming days, highlighting the resilience and solidarity of the New Zealand community in the face of adversity during this difficult time.