New Zealand Landslide Rescue Operation Faces Days-Long Search for Missing
Authorities in New Zealand have warned that the search for up to nine people unaccounted for after a catastrophic landslide tore through a popular campsite could take several days to complete. The North Island experienced a series of devastating landslides on Thursday following an extended period of record-breaking rainfall that has left communities reeling.
Tragic Events Unfold Across the Bay of Plenty Region
The tragedy began early Thursday morning when a landslip completely destroyed a home in Welcome Bay, located approximately 100 kilometres east of Hamilton in the Bay of Plenty region. This initial event claimed two lives at around 4:50 AM New Zealand Daylight Time. The situation escalated dramatically just hours later at 9:30 AM when another massive landslide struck the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, impacting campervans, vehicles, and a shower block.
Emergency services have indicated that the number of missing individuals is believed to be in "single figures," suggesting that as many as nine people, including children, could be trapped beneath the debris. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers addressed the media on Friday, deliberately refraining from providing an exact count of those unaccounted for.
"We don't want to form a view too early about how many may be caught up in that tragedy," Commissioner Chambers told the New Zealand Herald. "It could be days. And we appreciate that everybody is anxious and waiting for their loved ones, and for some answers, but we also have to be very careful."
Commissioner Chambers, who described himself as both a father and a policeman, expressed his profound sympathy for the affected families, noting he had spoken briefly with some relatives who were grateful for the ongoing rescue efforts.
Unstable Conditions Hamper Rescue Efforts
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale described the landslide area as "very unstable," emphasizing that authorities must continuously monitor ground conditions as rescue operations proceed. He warned that the recovery process would be a "long, slow process" due to the immense scale of the landslide and the treacherous environment.
"Unfortunately, there's still no real progress from actually finding people. So, look, that's really hard," Mayor Drysdale told Radio NZ. "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."
In the immediate aftermath of the landslide, locals and passers-by demonstrated remarkable bravery, rushing to help free those trapped. Desperate screams were reportedly heard from beneath the twisted rubble for approximately fifteen minutes before falling silent. The campground has since been fully evacuated, with roadblocks established in affected areas to keep the public at a safe distance.
Record Rainfall and Widespread Weather Chaos
The landslides followed extraordinary rainfall across the North Island. Tauranga, the closest city to Mount Maunganui, received a staggering 295 millimetres of rain in the 30 hours leading up to 6:00 AM on Thursday. Meteorologists at MetService issued a rare red weather warning for a "threat to life" in several regions, prompting a state of local emergency.
The severe weather has caused chaos beyond the campsite tragedy. In Warkworth near Auckland, a man in his forties was swept away in his car in the swollen Mahurangi River, though a passenger managed to escape to safety. Police continued searching for the missing motorist on Thursday. Meanwhile, in the remote Tairawhiti region, people have been trapped on rooftops in Te Araroa, requiring helicopter rescue assistance.
Thousands of residents across Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, and Tairawhiti were left without power following the storm and subsequent flooding. The MetService has issued a strong wind warning for the region from Friday morning into Saturday, raising concerns that further weather could topple trees and create additional hazards.
Official Warnings and Future Questions
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited the weather-impacted Coromandel Peninsula on Friday, issuing a public safety warning despite the heavy rain having passed.
"Even though the heavy rain has passed, the large amount of rainfall leaves many parts of the region particularly vulnerable to landslides and fallen trees," Prime Minister Luxon stated. "These can be extremely dangerous. Stay alert and look for warning signs: small slips, rock falls, sinking land or unusual noises."
Looking ahead, Police Commissioner Chambers indicated that serious questions would need to be answered regarding why the campsite was not evacuated earlier despite the severe weather warnings. For now, rescue teams continue their painstaking work at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, while anxious families wait for news in a gazebo erected near the scene.
