Severe weather on New Zealand's North Island has led to critical conditions, including a major landslide that engulfed a campsite at Mount Maunganui, a well-frequented tourist location along the northern coastline.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, with debris cascading onto the campgrounds amid a period of intense and sustained rainfall impacting much of the eastern seaboard.
Eyewitness accounts describe the event's loud and sudden nature. One witness recalled hearing a formidable sound just before ascending a nearby mountain. Upon turning around, she observed the earth collapsing onto several structures, including an ablution block reportedly occupied by people using the showers at the time. Vehicles and campers within the vicinity, including a campervan housing a family, were forcibly shifted by the momentum of the landslide.
Emergency services responded with urgency, evacuating hundreds of families from the area and beginning meticulous searches for any individuals still unaccounted for. Officials communicated that the number of missing persons remained in the single digits and included children.
Authorities hold cautious optimism regarding the survival of those trapped under the debris. Fire and Emergency personnel initially detected signs of life within the rubble; however, they subsequently withdrew amid concerns about further instability of the ground.
Authorities reported that members of the public also attempted to assist in the rescue efforts, hearing vocal responses from within the piled earth. However, the risk of additional movement necessitated a temporary halt to ensure the safety of responders and volunteers.
Complementing the efforts at Mount Maunganui, other areas experienced similar calamities. A landslide at a property in neighboring Papamoa resulted in two individuals being reported missing. Elsewhere, a person was swept away in their vehicle north of Auckland amid flooding conditions.
Authorities, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, highlighted the rapid response and preparation by emergency teams, emphasizing the importance of timely notification and action in mitigating adverse outcomes amid natural disasters.
Infrastructure challenges are significant, with road closures reported by the New Zealand Transport Authority across Northland, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato regions, severely impacting transportation and leaving some communities isolated due to damaged roadways.
By Thursday, the meteorological bureau, MetService, had lifted weather advisories across the North Island as the tropical low-pressure system moved eastward, although residual warnings persisted in parts of the South Island, expected to ease shortly.