Several individuals, including children, have gone missing following a significant landslide that devastated a renowned campground in New Zealand. Rescue teams are fervently scouring the debris in Mount Maunganui to locate those who are unaccounted for after heavy rains triggered the destruction.
Children are among the missing individuals after the landslide occurrence. The campground has been shut down post the natural calamity, with emergency services actively engaged in the search for missing persons.
The tragic incident unfolded in the popular tourist destination, approximately 240 kilometers southeast of Auckland, on January 22. Reports from local media indicate that screams emanated from the coastal holiday retreat where the landslide struck tents, campervans, and a shower facility.
The Tauranga City Council confirmed that most individuals have been safely evacuated from the Mount Holiday Park. A council spokesperson stated that the situation at Mount Maunganui is evolving, with efforts underway to gather more information and extend support in collaboration with emergency services.
The Fire and Emergency department spokesperson mentioned that rescue operations had to be momentarily halted due to the imminent threat of another landslide. Despite hearing cries as the land collapsed, no voices have been heard since the incident.
Minister Mark Mitchell disclosed that young people are among the missing, leaving distraught parents anxiously awaiting updates at the nearby surf club. According to reports, no survivors have been found yet, with emergency services verifying the absence of a young girl who is among the missing.
A nearby fisherman, Alister Hardy, recounted hearing sounds of rumbling and tree cracking before witnessing the hillside collapse entirely. He mentioned witnessing people running and screaming, with some individuals becoming trapped in the disaster.
The region has been pummeled by heavy rainfall, recording its wettest day on record as two-and-a-half months’ worth of rain fell within a mere 12-hour span.