A devastating landslide has left six individuals unaccounted for at a bustling campground on New Zealand’s North Island. Emergency crews are tirelessly searching through the debris to locate the missing, following the incident.

The landslide, triggered by torrential rain, occurred at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday local time at Mount Maunganui, situated on the island’s eastern coast. The avalanche of soil and rubble descended onto the crowded campsite in Tauranga, where families were enjoying the summer school holidays.

During a news conference, Police District Commander Tim Anderson stated that authorities are also trying to reach three additional people, apart from the six already reported missing.

“We don’t believe they’re here, but ‌we’ve still got to do that inquiry,” Anderson mentioned on Friday, highlighting the ongoing efforts to establish contact and ensure everyone’s safety.

Fortunately, officials have not yet reported any fatalities at the campsite, bringing a glimmer of hope amid the search operations.

Two people ‍died on Thursday in a landslide in the neighbouring suburb of Papamoa, police said. Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong said on X that one was a Chinese citizen.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher ‌Luxon on Friday visited areas hit by recent flooding.

Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale told Radio New Zealand that while search-and-rescue teams had continued working at the campground through the night, there had been no progress in finding missing people.

Images showed recreational vehicles and at least one structure crushed at the campsite.

“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 said.

He said the area remained unstable and emergency management and recovery minister Mark Mitchell told Radio New Zealand it was a ‍challenging environment.

Mitchell said police were checking if some campers may have left without telling authorities.

NZ Police commissioner Richard Chambers told the New Zealand Herald the scale of the disaster and the risks at the site could delay rescue efforts.

Heavy rains soaked much of the North Island’s east coast this week and caused widespread damage. Source: AAP / Cameron Avery

“It could be days, and we appreciate that everybody is anxious and waiting for their loved ones, and for some answers, but we also have to be very careful,” he said.

The landslide occurred after heavy rains soaked much of the North Island’s east coast this week and caused widespread damage.

Roads remained closed in some of the worst-hit areas, making some North Island towns inaccessible by land.

The civil defence organisation in Tairāwhiti District said people were walking over landslides to collect water and food from welfare hubs and warned against this due to ‍fears of further landslides.

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