New Zealand calls off rescue efforts for six missing after landslide

Rescue efforts have been called off for six people missing after a landslide hit a campsite in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Thursday, and the operation has transitioned to body recovery. Police confirmed that two teenagers, aged 15, are among the missing. Human remains were located on Friday evening. The landslide occurred after days of heavy rain on New Zealand's North Island, and conditions have made rescue efforts difficult. In a separate incident nearby at Welcome Bay, two people died in another landslide. The six missing individuals have been identified, and the Chief Coroner has begun the identification process.

Rescue efforts have ended and shifted to recovery after a landslide buried a holiday park in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, on Thursday. Six people, including a 15-year-old, are presumed dead after camper vans and other structures were buried in a mudslide caused by heavy rain. Human remains were found on Friday night, and officials warn that identifying the victims could be a lengthy process. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed the nation's grief and acknowledged the slim chances of survival. The recovery operation faces challenges due to unstable ground and forecasted poor weather. Authorities are facing questions about why evacuations did not occur after initial reports of landslips. Two people also died in a separate landslide in Tauranga on Thursday.

New Zealand authorities have shifted operations from rescue to recovery after a landslide struck a campsite in Mount Maunganui on Thursday. Human remains have been found amidst the mud and debris. Six people, including a 15-year-old, remain missing after camper vans, caravans, and a shower block were buried in the mudslide, which was triggered by heavy rain. Despite vigils held in the holiday town, authorities believe there is little chance of survival for those still unaccounted for. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson stated that locating all the bodies could take several days due to the extensive debris.

A landslide struck a campground at Mount Maunganui on New Zealand's North Island on Thursday, January 23, 2026, leaving six people missing, including two teenagers. The landslide, triggered by heavy rain, occurred at approximately 9:30 am local time, sending soil and debris onto the campsite in Tauranga, which was crowded with families on summer holiday. Rescue teams are searching through the debris, but officials warn the search could take several days due to unstable conditions. Safety concerns are slowing down the operation, but significant resources, including personnel, diggers, and police dogs, have been deployed to the area to methodically remove debris. Police are also working to clarify the whereabouts of others potentially linked to the site.

Landslides in New Zealand's North Island on Thursday resulted in at least two confirmed deaths and an unknown number of people missing. The first landslide struck a house in Welcome Bay at 4:50 AM, killing two residents. Later that morning, a second, larger slide hit the Beachside Holiday Park at the base of Mount Maunganui, crushing vehicles and buildings, with an unspecified number of people presumed buried. Emergency crews, including dog units, are searching the rubble at Mount Maunganui for survivors. Separately, a man is missing near Warkworth after being swept away by floodwaters on Wednesday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents to follow safety advice as extreme weather continues to impact the region.

On January 22, 2026, a landslide occurred at a campsite in Mount Maunganui, a popular tourist destination in northern New Zealand. Heavy rainfall is reported to have triggered the event. Several people, including children, are currently missing following the landslide. Rescue workers are on scene searching the affected area for survivors. Eyewitness videos and aerial footage show the extensive damage caused by the disaster. The full extent of the casualties and damage is still being assessed.

A landslide struck a campsite in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Thursday at 9:30 am local time, burying several people, including children. The landslide occurred after heavy rains caused widespread damage across the North Island's eastern seaboard, leading to evacuations, road closures, and power outages for thousands. Emergency services are searching for those missing at the popular tourist spot, where the landslide impacted structures and vehicles, including an ablutions block and a camper van. Hundreds of families were evacuated from the campsite as authorities worked to locate anyone remaining in the affected area.

A landslide occurred at a campsite in Mount Maunganui, a popular tourist destination in New Zealand, on Thursday. Several people are reported missing, prompting a rescue operation to locate potential survivors. An Australian tourist who escaped the landslide described it as the "scariest thing" he's ever experienced and reported being shaken by the event. Emergency services are currently on site conducting search and rescue efforts. The cause of the landslide is currently unknown.

Rescue workers are searching for missing people, including children, after landslides struck New Zealand's North Island on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Heavy rains caused flooding and landslides across the eastern seaboard, leading to evacuations and road closures. A landslide hit the Mount Maunganui holiday park, impacting campervans and a shower block, while another landslide struck a house in Papamoa. A man is also missing after his car was caught in floodwaters north of Auckland. Authorities detected signs of life in the rubble at Mount Maunganui but paused rescue efforts due to the risk of further landslides.