A massive landslide struck a holiday park at the base of Mount Maunganui in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty region, leaving several people, including children, missing. Rescue teams rushed to the site and began searching through campervans, cars, and debris.
Authorities reported that voices were initially heard from beneath the rubble, but no survivors have yet been located. Emergency crews are using sniffer dogs and heavy machinery to aid the search under difficult conditions caused by ongoing rain and unstable terrain.
The incident occurred after record rainfall triggered multiple landslides across the North Island. Tauranga city nearby recorded nearly 300 mm of rain in 24 hours, prompting rare red weather alerts and widespread flooding.
Officials confirmed that the holiday park and surrounding areas have been evacuated, while reinforcements have been deployed to assist rescue operations. The tragedy has raised concerns about infrastructure safety and the impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable communities.
