2 teens, 4 others missing after deadly New Zealand landslides

International

TWO teenagers are among six people missing after landslides ripped through Mount Maunganui and nearby Welcome Bay, as rescuers comb through crushed caravans and flattened tents amid continuing storms.

The disaster has left communities reeling, with heavy rain still affecting parts of New Zealand’s North Island.

At Mount Maunganui, authorities are also seeking information about three additional individuals who may have been at the campsite but are believed to have left the area.

Police district commander Tim Anderson said they do not expect those three to be present, but the inquiry is ongoing.

Rescuers have not seen signs of life under the rubble so far, though teams continue to work around the clock, leaving no stone unturned.

Footage from the campsite shows sniffer dogs and emergency crews carefully moving through flattened tents and crushed caravans. A tourist told TVNZ he had jumped out of a pool as the landslide swept through, narrowly avoiding disaster.

Nearby Welcome Bay also suffered severe damage when a landslide destroyed a house, killing a grandmother and her grandchild.

Police confirmed one of the victims was a Chinese national, while another resident at the scene was seriously injured.

Wang Xiaolong, China’s ambassador to New Zealand, expressed condolences on X, saying in a BBC report, “Our hearts are with the impacted families at this difficult moment.” He acknowledged the confirmed deaths and noted that several people remain unaccounted for at Mount Maunganui.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited the affected areas on Friday and praised the community’s response. He called it inspiring to see neighbors and extended networks helping to clear debris in flood-hit areas, and said he was impressed by the professionalism of emergency teams.

Luxon also highlighted the ongoing challenges, including limited road access to isolated communities and the continuing risks of slips and flooding.

The New Zealand Meteorological Service has forecast thunderstorms and strong winds this weekend for both Tauranga, where the landslides occurred, and Gisborne, where floods have already cut off communities.

Elsewhere on the North Island, search efforts resumed for a 47-year-old man swept into the Mahurangi River, north of Auckland, on Wednesday. His wife said the family remains hopeful, noting that he was an experienced swimmer and diver who had worked as a fisherman in Kiribati before moving to New Zealand in 2003.

The Mount Maunganui site, a sacred Māori area, is a popular tourist destination but has experienced several landslides in recent years, highlighting the persistent risks posed by extreme weather.(MyTVCebu)