A catastrophic landslide has struck a campsite in northern New Zealand, leaving multiple people feared missing under tonnes of mud and debris after heavy overnight rain lashed the region. The incident occurred on Thursday at the foot of the extinct volcano Mount Maunganui, where mounds of earth buried a shower block and impacted several camper vans and a pool complex.
Rescue Mission Underway Amid Ongoing Dangers
Emergency officials and witnesses reported hearing voices calling for help from beneath the rubble shortly after the landslide hit. Assistant Police Commissioner Tim Anderson, speaking at the scene, emphasized that rescue operations are actively in progress, stating, "Whilst the land's still moving there, they're in a rescue mission." He refrained from specifying exact numbers but indicated that the missing individuals are in single figures.
Rescuers have deployed heavy machinery to search for survivors, but the situation remains perilous due to the risk of further earth movements. Fire and Emergency commander William Pike noted that initial crews heard voices from the wreckage, but everyone was later evacuated from the site for safety reasons. When asked if voices had been heard since, Pike responded, "Not that I know of, no."
Eyewitness Accounts Describe Chaos and Confusion
Visiting Canadian tourist Dion Siluch, 34, recounted a harrowing experience while relaxing at the Mount Hot Pools complex, which was subsequently evacuated. "I was in a massage at the mount pools and the whole room started shaking," he told AFP. Upon exiting, he saw a caravan in the pool and a mudslide that narrowly missed him by about 30 feet. Siluch described the initial confusion, saying, "It was all very confusing. I wasn't sure if someone had driven off the road and into the pool. It took me a while to realise that the mountain had collapsed and had pushed everything into the pool."
Siluch added that he had observed another landslip about an hour earlier but did not pay much attention until police arrived by helicopter to order evacuations.
Community Response and Additional Incidents
Hiker Mark Tangney, as reported by the New Zealand Herald, rushed to assist after hearing screams from the campsite. "I could just hear people screaming, so I just parked up and ran to help," he said. Tangney and others attempted to rescue those trapped by removing the roof of a toilet block, where they heard cries for help. However, the voices eventually ceased.
In a related incident, Assistant Police Commissioner Anderson mentioned a separate landslip that struck a home in nearby Tauranga. While two people escaped, two others remain unaccounted for, highlighting the widespread impact of the severe weather conditions in the area.
The landslide has underscored the vulnerabilities of regions prone to natural disasters, with rescue teams continuing their efforts amidst challenging and unstable terrain.
