Mount Maunganui Landslide: Children Among Missing as Rescue Efforts Continue
Emergency services in New Zealand are conducting a frantic search for several missing people, including children, after a devastating landslide destroyed part of an iconic campground at Mount Maunganui. The catastrophic event occurred on Thursday morning following unprecedented rainfall that saw two-and-a-half months' worth of rain fall in just twelve hours, marking the area's wettest day on record.
Desperate Search Amidst Dangerous Conditions
Rescuers have been working desperately to locate those unaccounted for in the debris after screams were heard from the beachside holiday resort where the landslip hit tents, campervans, and a shower block. According to reports from the scene, people could be heard yelling as the land fell, but no voices have been heard since the initial collapse.
The situation remains extremely dangerous, with the Fire and Emergency department confirming that rescuers have had to temporarily stand down from the scene due to the threat of a second slip. The tourist hotspot, located approximately 240 kilometres south-east of Auckland, has been closed following the natural disaster as emergency services continue their efforts.
Official Statements and Community Response
Tauranga City Council released a statement confirming that most people have been successfully evacuated from the Mount Holiday Park, but several individuals remain unaccounted for. A council spokesperson described the situation as "evolving" and stated: "We are on site and working with emergency services to gather more information and provide support. What we know is that several people are unaccounted for. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this event and their loved ones."
Minister Mark Mitchell confirmed that "young people" are among those missing, with heartbroken parents waiting for news at the nearby surf club. Reports indicate that nobody has yet been found alive, with emergency services confirming a young girl is among the missing.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Catastrophe
Fisherman Alister Hardy, who was close to the scene, reported hearing "rolling thunder and cracking of trees" before witnessing the hillside give way. "There were people running and screaming and I saw people get bowled. There are people trapped," he described, painting a vivid picture of the chaos that unfolded as the landslide struck the popular camping area.
The area has been battered by extreme weather conditions, with the record-breaking rainfall creating the unstable ground conditions that led to this tragedy. Emergency services continue to work under challenging circumstances as they attempt to locate and rescue those trapped in the debris while managing the ongoing threat of further landslides.
