Rescue teams searched through debris at a campground in New Zealand on Thursday to find missing individuals, including children, following a landslide caused by heavy rainfall. The downpour affected the eastern coast of the North Island, leading to evacuations and road closures. Authorities estimate the number of missing individuals to be in single digits after the incident in Mount Maunganui.
Emergency services announced that they would utilize heavy machinery to clear away layers of rubble throughout the night to locate the missing persons in what they described as a challenging and risky operation. Megan Stiffler, an official from the fire and emergency services, emphasized the continuous efforts of the teams until the search concludes.
During a press briefing, Police Superintendent Tim Anderson disclosed that the number of missing individuals was minimal, expressing hope for potential survivors to be found. Helicopters and search dogs were deployed in the search operation, while reports indicated that around 8,000 people remained without electricity, a significant decrease from the initial 16,000. Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities thus far.
A witness, Dion Siluch from Canada, shared his experience of feeling the tremors during the landslide while receiving a massage at Mount Hot Pools nearby. He described the intense shaking akin to a passing freight train and witnessed a caravan being swept into the hot pool. Siluch, along with his family, evacuated the area as the search for missing individuals intensified.
Despite indications of life within the rubble, rescue operations were briefly halted due to concerns of further ground movements. Emergency commander William Pike mentioned that although voices were heard by both the public and fire crew, no distinct sounds have been detected since the initial response.
Additional reports surfaced about two missing individuals from a house affected by another landslide in Papamoa and a third person missing after a vehicle was swept away north of Auckland. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon assured that the government was providing full support to those impacted by the natural disaster.
Authorities mentioned the closure of roads in Northland, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato due to the adverse weather conditions, causing isolation in some small communities. The weather forecast indicated the lifting of warnings across the North Island as a tropical low moved towards the east.