Rescue teams searched through debris in New Zealand on Thursday, looking for missing individuals, including children, following a landslide caused by heavy rains. The downpour affected the eastern seaboard of the North Island, leading to evacuations and road closures. A small number of people are reported missing after the Mount Maunganui landslide.
Emergency services anticipate using heavy machinery to clear the rubble and locate the missing persons overnight. Megan Stiffler, a fire and emergency services official, described the operation as complex and high-risk, stating that teams would continue working until the search is complete.
Police Superintendent Tim Anderson mentioned that the number of missing individuals was in the single digits and expressed hope of finding survivors. Helicopters and search dogs were deployed in the search efforts, while reports indicated that 8,000 people remained without power, reduced from an initial 16,000. Fortunately, no fatalities had been confirmed.
A witness, Canadian Dion Siluch, recalled the intense shaking during the landslide while he was at Mount Hot Pools. Siluch and his family evacuated the area as rescuers began their search. Despite initial signs of life, no voices have been heard in the rubble due to safety concerns.
In a separate incident, two individuals were reported missing after a landslide hit a house in Papamoa, with another person missing after a vehicle was swept away near Auckland. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon assured that the government was providing assistance to those affected. Road closures and damage were reported in various regions, affecting transportation.
As weather warnings were lifted in the North Island, the search and rescue operations continued in the aftermath of the natural disasters in New Zealand.