At least two people have died, and several children remain missing after massive landslides tore through parts of New Zealand’s North Island following record-breaking rainfall.
The most devastating incident occurred in Welcome Bay at 4:50 a.m. when a landslide struck a house. Two occupants managed to escape, but two others were trapped inside and later found dead, according to Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell.
The Beachside Holiday Park was evacuated after caravans, tents, vehicles, and amenities were flattened by the slip.
Rescue workers reported no signs of life at the campsite, while Mitchell confirmed “at least one young girl” is among those unaccounted for. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson said the number of missing persons is in the “single figures.”
Mitchell described sections of the east coast as resembling “a war zone.” Helicopters have been deployed to rescue families stranded on rooftops, and local states of emergency have been declared in five regions, including Northland and the East Cape.
Foreign tourists, including Australians, were caught up in the chaos. Sonny Worrall from Newcastle, NSW, recounted his terrifying escape: “I looked behind me, and there was a huge landslide coming down. I had to jump out from my seat and just run. People were panicking everywhere.”
