A tragic landslide at a popular campsite in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, has resulted in two fatalities and left six individuals missing, including children, as rescue operations face significant challenges due to ongoing instability in the area.
Witness Describes 'Almighty Cracking' and Chaos
Local resident Alister McHardy, who was preparing to fish at sunrise on Thursday, first noticed a 'mountain of soil' at the north end of the beach adjacent to Mount Maunganui. He immediately alerted emergency services and the council, warning of potential further slips based on his experience as an underground miner. McHardy described hearing an 'almighty cracking' sound, followed by a deep rumble as the slope collapsed, engulfing caravans and vehicles at speed.
'It was almost like the air pressure changed. It was a real powerful event,' McHardy recounted. 'It just came down, a lot of cracking and people screaming and car alarms going off … The sounds of mayhem.' He assisted campers by waking those in tents near the slip and advising them to move to safety before the main landslide occurred.
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Unstable Conditions
Emergency teams are working meticulously in what officials describe as a complex and high-risk environment. Voices were heard calling for help from beneath the rubble initially, but nothing has been detected since, according to witnesses and authorities. Fire and Emergency Assistant National Commander David Guard emphasised that progress is slow as crews clear layers of debris carefully.
'We are operating in a complex and high-risk environment,' Guard stated. 'We will continue the operation until the search is complete.' New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers warned that the scale of the disaster and site risks could delay rescue efforts for days, acknowledging the anxiety of waiting families.
Heavy Rains Trigger Widespread Damage
The landslide, triggered by heavy rains at approximately 9:30 am on Thursday, struck during the summer school holidays when families were enjoying the campsite. This incident is part of broader weather-related devastation across New Zealand's North Island, including another landslide in Papamoa that killed two people and a separate incident where a man was washed away with his vehicle north of Auckland.
Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale reported no progress in locating the missing and highlighted the area's continued instability. 'That's really hard, and we're here with the families and as you can imagine, just that uncertainty of where they are and when we might have a result is pretty hard,' Drysdale told Radio New Zealand.
National Grief and International Response
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed the nation's sorrow, having met with grieving families. 'New Zealand is full of grief today … and grieves with them,' he said, describing it as an 'absolutely tragic' time. The Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, confirmed via social media that one of the deceased is a Chinese citizen, though officials have not released detailed information about the fatalities.
The Mount Maunganui region, renowned for its natural beauty and as a tourist hotspot for hikers and beach enthusiasts, has been profoundly affected. McHardy reflected on the area as his sanctuary, noting its ecological richness now marred by disaster.
Ongoing Risks and Community Warnings
Authorities have issued warnings against traversing landslide-affected areas, as the civil defence organisation in Tairawhiti District reported people walking over slips to access welfare hubs for water and food, risking further landslides. Roads remain closed in severely impacted zones, isolating some North Island towns.
This tragedy underscores the vulnerability of scenic regions to extreme weather events and the critical importance of emergency preparedness in such popular destinations.
