01/23/2026, 07:3401/23/2026, 07:34
Mount Maunganui/Auckland – One day after a serious landslide at a campsite on Mount Maunganui in New Zealand, emergency teams continue to search tirelessly for possible survivors. At least six people were buried under the masses of mud, the police said in the morning (local time). In total, up to nine people could be affected.
According to the information, two young people are among the missing.Image: keystone
Information was still being collected on three other vacationers – probably foreign tourists – said local police chief Tim Anderson. It is not clear whether they had left the campsite shortly before the accident or were also buried.
Desperate relatives
According to the information, two young people are among the missing. The authorities were initially unable to say with certainty whether and how many foreigners were affected.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke of an “absolute tragedy”. The pain of the anxious relatives is unimaginable.
But it is still a rescue operation and not a pure recovery operation, said Police Chief Anderson. “If you look at cases abroad, you can see that people were still being rescued even after several days.” The emergency services would leave no stone unturned to find survivors.
It is not clear why the campsite was not cleared beforehand.Image: keystone
Witnesses report cries for help
The landslide on Thursday morning destroyed parts of the well-known camping area and buried tents in mud. Eyewitnesses reported that screams for help could be heard from a toilet block. After about 15 minutes the voices fell silent.
Aerial photographs made clear the extent of the tragedy, which was preceded by record rainfall: more rain fell in the region in twelve hours than in two and a half months – the highest daily value since records began. It is currently being investigated why the campsite was not evacuated as a precaution despite the flash floods and the soggy ground.
The campsite is on the North Island of New Zealand.Image: keystone
The seaside resort of Mount Maunganui lies on a peninsula and is known for its breathtaking nature, beautiful beaches and a striking extinct volcano. The area is located in the well-known Bay of Plenty region on the North Island.
Two dead in a nearby town
Severe flooding also occurred in other parts of the region. In the nearby town of Papamoa, two missing people were only found dead after another landslide that hit a residential building. The victims were a grandmother and her grandson, New Zealand media reported. The search is also continuing north of Auckland for a man who was swept away by the floods in his car while trying to cross the Mahurangi River. (sda/dpa)