In a tragic turn of events, at least two people have been confirmed dead and more are presumed buried after a series of devastating landslides hit the North Island of New Zealand on Thursday. The first landslide struck a house in the community of Welcome Bay, while the second hit a campground at the base of Mount Maunganui, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
According to authorities, the initial landslide occurred at around 4:50 am, with two people escaping the affected house, but the bodies of two others who were trapped inside were later recovered. Just hours later, emergency services were called to a second landslide at the Beachside Holiday Park, located at the base of the extinct Mount Maunganui volcano.
Images from the scene showed vehicles, travel trailers, and an amenities block crushed by the debris. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson stated that the number of people missing was in the “single figures”, though no survivors or bodies had been recovered by late Thursday as search and rescue efforts continued, with sniffer dogs used to search for potential victims.
“There was a shower block and a, sort of, combined shower block-kitchen block and there were people using that at the time the slide came through and they are some of the ones that we’re working hard to try and recover now,” said Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell.
The extreme weather conditions have taken a heavy toll, with a man also reported missing after floodwaters swept him from a road near Warkworth on Wednesday as heavy rain lashed large swathes of the North Island.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents in affected areas to heed the safety advice of local authorities, stating that the “government is doing everything we can to support those impacted.” Fire and Emergency NZ commander William Pike noted that there were some initial signs of life after the Mount Maunganui landslide, but the site was later evacuated due to the risk of further movement and slippage.
As the search and rescue efforts continue, the true extent of the devastation remains to be seen. The resilience of the New Zealand people will be tested as they work to recover from this tragic event.
