Emergency crews in New Zealand worked through the night after two people were confirmed dead and several others remained unaccounted for following multiple landslides triggered by heavy rainfall across the North Island.
Authorities reported that a landslide struck a home in Welcome Bay early Thursday morning, killing two people who were trapped inside. A separate slide later hit the Beachside Holiday Park at the base of Mount Maunganui, prompting an extensive search-and-rescue operation involving firefighters, sniffer dogs, and specialist teams.
Police stated that the number of missing individuals at the campground remained in the “single figures,” though no survivors or additional victims had been recovered by late Thursday. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said unstable ground conditions forced crews to withdraw temporarily for safety, slowing the rescue effort. Fire and Emergency NZ commander William Pike confirmed that responders initially heard voices beneath the rubble but none since.
Further north, a man remained missing after floodwaters swept his vehicle from a road near Warkworth on Wednesday, underscoring the widespread impact of the severe weather system. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents to follow safety guidance as heavy rain continued to affect large parts of the North Island.
The landslides followed days of intense rainfall across the region, with meteorologists issuing rare red weather warnings for life‑threatening conditions. The Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, and Northland areas experienced significant flooding, road closures, and power outages. Landslides are not uncommon in New Zealand’s mountainous terrain, but experts note that extreme weather events have become more frequent in recent years.
Mount Maunganui, a popular tourist destination, was particularly affected. Images from the scene showed crushed vehicles, damaged campervans, and debris covering facilities at the holiday park. Local officials said some individuals initially listed as missing may have left the area without notifying authorities, complicating efforts to confirm the number of people unaccounted for.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of coastal and hillside communities to severe weather events and the challenges emergency services face when responding in unstable conditions. Authorities continue to assess damage across the region as search operations proceed.
Rescue teams are expected to remain on site until all areas are cleared and all missing persons are accounted for, though officials caution that ongoing ground movement may prolong the operation.