In a devastating turn of events, the search and rescue operation for six missing individuals in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, has been called off, with authorities now focused on recovering the victims’ bodies. The announcement comes after a landslide struck a popular campsite on Thursday, leaving the community in mourning.
Police Superintendent Tim Anderson delivered the heartbreaking news, stating, “Tragically, it is now apparent that we will not be able to bring them home alive.” The victims have been identified as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, from Morrinsville; Måns Loke Bernhardson, 20, from Sweden; Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, from Rotorua; Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, from Ngongotaha; and the two youngest victims, Sharon Maccanico, 15, and Max Furse-Kee, 15, both from Auckland.
The landslide, which occurred amidst heavy rainfall that has been pounding New Zealand’s North Island for days, has been described by the authorities as “incredibly challenging” to navigate. Search teams located human remains beneath the dirt and debris on Friday evening, further confirming the tragic outcome.
Chief Coroner Judge Anna Tutton acknowledged that the identification process will be “complex” and “painstaking,” but assured that the authorities will work diligently to reunite the victims with their families.
In a separate incident, a grandmother and her grandchild were also killed in a different landslide at Welcome Bay, near Mount Maunganui, according to reports from Radio New Zealand.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited the site on Friday, expressing his admiration for the community’s resilience and the efforts of those working tirelessly to clear the debris in the flood-affected areas.
Mount Maunganui, a sacred Māori site and one of the most popular campsites in New Zealand, has been repeatedly hit by landslides in recent years, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by the region.
As the nation grapples with this devastating loss, the focus now shifts to providing support and comfort to the families of the victims, while the authorities work to uncover the full extent of the tragedy and determine the necessary steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
