Rescue teams scoured debris on Thursday at a campground in New Zealand in search of missing individuals, including children, following a landslide caused by heavy rains that disrupted power supply to thousands and inflicted extensive destruction. Evacuations were carried out, and roads were shut down as the rain pummeled the majority of the eastern coast of the North Island. Authorities estimated that the number of missing individuals, primarily from the tourist destination of Mount Maunganui, was in single digits.
Emergency services announced that they would utilize heavy equipment to remove layers of debris throughout the night to locate the missing persons in a challenging and risky environment, according to Megan Stiffler, a fire and emergency services official. The search effort would continue through the night until its completion.
During a press briefing, Police Superintendent Tim Anderson stated that the number of missing individuals was in the single digits, expressing hope of finding survivors. Helicopters and search dogs were deployed in the search operation, with reports indicating that around 8,000 individuals were still without power, down from the initial 16,000. As of now, no fatalities have been confirmed.
A witness, Canadian Dion Siluch, described feeling the tremors of the landslide while receiving a massage near the Mount Hot Pools, likening the experience to a passing freight train. Siluch recounted seeing a caravan in the hot pool from the window and evacuating with his family as emergency services intensified their search efforts.
Despite initial indications of life beneath the rubble, no voices have been heard following concerns of further ground movements, prompting a temporary halt in search operations, as mentioned by fire and emergency commander William Pike. Reports suggested that children were among the missing individuals, as mentioned by Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell.
Elsewhere, police reported two individuals missing after a separate landslide hit a house in Papamoa, and a third person was unaccounted for after their vehicle was swept away north of Auckland. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon assured that the government was providing full support to those affected. Transport authorities confirmed road closures in Northland, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato due to the severe weather conditions, with road damage isolating certain small communities. Weather authorities have lifted all warnings for the North Island as a tropical low system moves eastward.