A devastating landslide, instigated by heavy rainfall, has impacted a popular campground located in Mount Maunganui on New Zealand's North Island. This unfortunate event has led to multiple individuals, including some children, being reported as missing, prompting a swift rescue operation.
The incident took place early Thursday morning at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, where the intense rainfall caused the ground to become saturated, resulting in a hillside collapsing over tents, campervans, and a shower-toilet facility at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time.
Rescue teams, including Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), police, and specialized search units are actively engaged in efforts to find any individuals who may still be trapped under the debris.
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has stated that one young girl is among those unaccounted for, and there may be additional children missing, describing the situation as “heartbreaking” for the families anxiously awaiting updates.
According to Police District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson, the number of people missing is in the 'single figures', hinting that there remains a possibility of finding someone alive amidst the wreckage.
Mark Tangney was one of the first responders on-site who heard the screams of individuals and witnessed holidaymakers evacuating the campground in distress. He recounted, 'There were six or eight other guys there on the roof of the toilet block with tools just trying to take the roof off because we could hear people screaming
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