New Zealand Landslides Leave Two Dead and Multiple Missing in North Island Disasters
Emergency services in New Zealand are engaged in a critical rescue operation following two devastating landslides that struck the North Island on Thursday, resulting in at least two confirmed fatalities and leaving several individuals unaccounted for. The tragic incidents occurred amidst severe weather conditions that have battered large portions of the region.
Welcome Bay House Destroyed in Early Morning Landslide
The first catastrophic event unfolded in the community of Welcome Bay shortly before dawn. Police reported that a landslide impacted a residential property at approximately 4:50 a.m. local time. While two occupants managed to escape the collapsing structure, two others were tragically trapped inside. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell confirmed that their bodies were recovered several hours after the initial slide.
Mount Maunganui Campground Engulfed by Debris
Later on Thursday morning, emergency crews were dispatched to a second, separate landslide at the base of Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano. The debris flow devastated the Beachside Holiday Park, a popular campground located in the town named after the mountain. Disturbing images from the scene depicted vehicles, travel trailers, and an amenities block completely crushed under the weight of earth and rock.
Police Superintendent Tim Anderson indicated that the number of individuals missing from this site was in the "single figures." By late Thursday, no survivors or additional bodies had been recovered from the Mount Maunganui rubble, where search and rescue teams, including canine units, were meticulously combing the area for signs of life.
Search Efforts and Eyewitness Accounts
Minister Mitchell provided harrowing details, noting that a combined shower and kitchen block was in use at the time of the slide, and those individuals are now the focus of intense recovery efforts. Fire and Emergency NZ commander William Pike reported that initial responders and members of the public heard voices from within the rubble immediately after the disaster, prompting a frantic rescue attempt. However, crews were forced to withdraw due to concerns about further ground movement and the risk of additional slips.
Australian tourist Sonny Worrall, who was present at the campground, described a terrifying experience. "I looked behind me and there's a huge landslide coming down. And I'm still shaking from it now," he recounted. Worrall had to leap from a hot pool and run for safety, looking back to see a travel trailer being carried away by the debris. "It was like the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my life," he said.
Broader Weather Crisis and Official Response
The landslides are part of a wider extreme weather event affecting the North Island. In a separate incident further north near Warkworth, a man remains missing after being swept from a road by floodwaters on Wednesday morning.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addressed the situation, urging all residents in affected areas to strictly follow safety advice from local authorities. "Extreme weather continues to cause dangerous conditions across the North Island. Right now, the government is doing everything we can to support those impacted," Luxon stated in a social media post.
Mount Maunganui Mayor Mahe Drysdale noted that some individuals initially reported as unaccounted for may have left the campground without notifying officials. The campground has been closed indefinitely following the disaster as recovery and assessment operations continue.
