New Zealand Landslides Claim Lives and Leave Multiple Missing in North Island
Emergency services in New Zealand are engaged in a critical rescue operation following devastating landslides that struck the North Island on Thursday. The catastrophic events have resulted in two confirmed fatalities, with several more individuals feared buried under rubble as extreme weather conditions continue to batter the region.
Welcome Bay House Impact and Fatalities
The first landslide occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, striking a residential property in the Welcome Bay community at precisely 4:50 a.m. According to police reports, two occupants managed to escape the collapsing structure. Tragically, two other individuals trapped inside the house were later recovered deceased by emergency crews.
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell confirmed the recovery of these two bodies hours after the initial impact, highlighting the immediate danger posed by the unstable ground conditions across the North Island.
Mount Maunganui Campground Catastrophe
Later that same morning, emergency services received urgent calls regarding a second major landslide at the base of Mount Maunganui. This slide directly impacted the Beachside Holiday Park, a campground located in the town named after the extinct volcano.
Disturbing images from the scene revealed vehicles, travel trailers, and an amenities block completely crushed under tonnes of debris. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson indicated that the number of missing persons remained in "single figures" as search efforts intensified.
Search and Rescue Operations Underway
By late Thursday, no survivors or additional bodies had been recovered from the Mount Maunganui rubble, where specially trained dogs were deployed to sniff for human victims amidst the destruction. Minister Mitchell provided harrowing details about the circumstances, noting that people were using shower and kitchen facilities when the landslide struck.
"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," Mitchell explained during an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Extreme Weather Conditions Across the Region
The landslides occurred amidst severe weather affecting large portions of the North Island. Further north near Warkworth, authorities reported a separate incident where a man went missing after floodwaters swept him from a road on Wednesday morning.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a public statement urging residents in affected areas to strictly follow safety advice from local authorities during these dangerous conditions. "Extreme weather continues to cause dangerous conditions across the North Island. Right now, the government is doing everything we can to support those impacted," Luxon posted on social media platforms.
Eyewitness Accounts and Initial Response
Fire and Emergency NZ commander William Pike revealed that there were initial signs of life immediately following the Mount Maunganui landslide. "Members of the public ... tried to get into the rubble and did hear some voices," Pike told reporters. "Our initial fire crew arrived and … were able to hear the same. Shortly after our initial crew arrived, we withdrew everyone from the site due to possible movement and slip."
Australian tourist Sonny Worrall provided a chilling firsthand account of the campground disaster. He described relaxing in a hot pool when he both heard and saw the landslide approaching. "I looked behind me and there's a huge landslide coming down. And I'm still shaking from it now," Worrall told New Zealand's 1News. "I turned around and I had to jump out from my seat as fast as I could and just run."
The terrified tourist looked back to witness the rubble carrying a travel trailer behind him, later describing it as "the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my life."
Ongoing Investigation and Campground Closure
Mayor Mahe Drysdale noted that some individuals initially reported as unaccounted for had actually left the campground without notifying authorities. The Beachside Holiday Park has been officially closed following the disaster as structural assessments and recovery operations continue.
Emergency crews remain on high alert across the North Island as heavy rainfall persists, creating ongoing risks of further landslides and flooding in vulnerable areas. The New Zealand government has mobilised additional resources to support affected communities during this developing crisis.
