At least two people are dead, and “multiple” children are missing after landslides ripped through a tourist hotspot on Thursday.
Landslides Devastate Coastal New Zealand
Two deaths have so far been reported in the coastal community of Welcome Bay, located on New Zealand’s North Island, following a landslide on Mount Manganui, an inactive volcanic dome that serves as a year-round tourist attraction thanks to its myriad hiking trails and lush, sandy beaches. Superintendent Tim Anderson, Commander for the Bay of Plenty District, confirmed that there are two rescue operations “concurrently running” as workers search for missing residents.
“Police, alongside Fire and Emergency NZ, are working to locate and rescue people trapped in a landslide that came down off Mount Maunganui at 9:30 a.m. [local time] today,” Anderson said. Authorities added in a news release that some campers had been successfully evacuated from an impacted site, though “several people” are currently “unaccounted for.”
“Members of the Mount Maunganui campsite have been evacuated and directed to the nearby Surf Club,” read the Facebook post. In a separate news release, police in Welcome Bay confirmed that the two confirmed deceased were killed after their home “was extensively damaged by a landslide.”
“Both people are sadly deceased,” authorities confirmed. “Police are working to support their loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. The deaths have been referred to the Coroner,” who will conduct a formal investigation and establish an official cause of death. Radio New Zealand reported that an adolescent female is one of those missing following the Mount Maunganui landslide. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell confirmed that other children may be unaccounted for.
Rescue Efforts Ongoing Despite Grim Forecast
At a press conference on Thursday, Fire and Emergency commander William Pike noted that first responders could hear voices from beneath the rubble after they initially arrived at the scene, but they have not heard anything since. However, officials assured family members and local authorities that the search would continue for the foreseeable future.
The New Zealand Herald reported that up to nine people are currently unaccounted for in the landslide’s aftermath, citing a source closely involved in the rescue efforts. Police previously said that they believe the number “is in the single figures.”
Sonny Warrall, a tourist visiting from Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he believed he was going to die when the landslide initially triggered while he was swimming with friends. “People were in the pools, and they were jumping out, running, people were screaming. It was insane, I just couldn’t believe it,” he told the outlet, adding that he was “still shaking.” “It all happened in a flash, I was definitely fearing for my life,” he added.
Prime Minister Calls Landslides a ‘Profound Tragedy’
In a post to X, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called the incident a “profound tragedy.” He added that his thoughts are “with the families who have lost loved ones, and with those whose family members remain unaccounted for…These losses are deeply shattering, and New Zealand is heavy with grief,” Luxon added.
“The rescue effort continues, and the Government stands with affected communities during this response, and we will continue to stand with them throughout the recovery ahead,” he continued. “Amid this tragedy, we have once again seen the very best of New Zealand. Emergency responders, local marae, the Defence Force, and many everyday Kiwis have put themselves in harm’s way to support their fellow New Zealanders. On behalf of the country, thank you.”
Calling the landslide a “one in 100-year event,” Anderson praised the dedication of first responders. “We have already seen countless examples over the last 24 hours of Police staff putting their lives at risk to protect members of the public through evacuations,” he said. “A number of additional staff were rostered to work overnight to assist with evacuations and our emergency response. This community is a very tight-knit community, and now more than ever, we need to band together to support one another. Police are offering ongoing support to those impacted by the weather, and will continue to provide necessary support for the community.”
