Six individuals, including teenagers, are still missing following a destructive landslide that has wrecked a renowned camping site in New Zealand. Emergency response teams hurried to Mount Maunganui after the land shifted on Thursday morning. A large-scale search and rescue operation was initiated to locate those unaccounted for, suspected to be trapped in the debris.
New Zealand authorities have officially stated that six people, including two teenagers, are still untraceable, with the youngest being a 15-year-old. Additionally, three missing individuals, believed to be tourists who departed before the incident, remain unlocated. Police mentioned that while they do not think these individuals were involved in the landslide, further investigations are necessary to confirm. The missing parties are presumed to be tourists who likely left the area.
Throughout Thursday, emergency services meticulously combed through the wreckage caused by severe rainfall, resulting in catastrophic devastation. The calamity struck at the popular tourist spot, approximately 240 kilometers southeast of Auckland. Authorities expressed their commitment to supporting the families of the missing individuals and extended gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support and compassion.
Local reports indicated that sounds of distress emanated from beneath the debris as the landslide engulfed tents, campervans, and a shower facility. Witness Alister Hardy recounted hearing thunderous noises and tree cracks before witnessing the hillside collapse entirely. He described a chaotic scene with people running, screaming, and being caught in the landslide.
The region experienced unprecedented rainfall, with an equivalent of two-and-a-half months’ worth of rain pouring down within a mere 12-hour span.