Rescue teams sifted through debris on Thursday at a campground in New Zealand in search of missing individuals, including children, following a landslide caused by heavy rainfall. The downpour affected the eastern coastline of the North Island, leading to evacuations and road closures. The police estimated that the number of missing individuals, mainly in Mount Maunganui, was in the single digits.
Emergency services announced that they would use heavy machinery to clear debris layers and locate the missing individuals throughout the night. Megan Stiffler, a fire and emergency services official, highlighted the complexity and high-risk nature of the operation, mentioning that the teams would continue their search overnight.
Police Superintendent Tim Anderson revealed during a press briefing that the number of missing persons was in single figures, expressing hope of finding survivors. Helicopters and search dogs were deployed in the search efforts, with reports indicating that 8,000 people were without power, a significant improvement from the initial 16,000. Fortunately, no fatalities had been confirmed at that point.
Canadian witness Dion Siluch described experiencing the landslide while receiving a massage at Mount Hot Pools. He recounted the intense shaking and likened it to a passing freight train. Siluch, along with his family, evacuated the area as authorities initiated search and rescue operations. Despite initial signs of life detected by responders, further ground movement concerns forced a temporary withdrawal.
Additional missing persons were reported after a separate landslide hit a house in Papamoa, and a vehicle was swept away north of Auckland. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon assured that the government was providing full support to those affected. Transport disruptions were reported in Northland, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato due to road closures, with some communities cut off due to road damage.
As a tropical low moved east, weather officials lifted all warnings in the North Island, signaling improved conditions.