Wellington: Rescue teams in New Zealand are continuing a difficult search for people missing after a large landslide struck a busy campground on the North Island.
The landslide hit the Beachside Holiday Park near Mount Maunganui after days of heavy rain weakened the hillside above the site. Large volumes of earth and debris slid down onto the campground where families and holidaymakers were staying. Police said several people, including children, remain unaccounted for.
Emergency crews including police, firefighters, search dogs and specialist teams have been working carefully through mud and unstable ground. Authorities warned that the area remains unsafe and that the search could take several days as there is a risk of further landslides.
Officials said at least six people were reported missing, but the number could change as police check whether some campers may have left the area without informing authorities. No survivors have been confirmed rescued from the campground so far.
The disaster is part of a wider spell of severe weather affecting large parts of the North Island. Heavy rain has caused flooding, road closures and multiple landslides across the region.
In a separate incident nearby, a landslide hit a house in the Papamoa area, killing two people. Local authorities confirmed that one of the victims was a foreign national. Emergency services have urged residents in high risk areas to remain alert as more rain is forecast.
The prime minister visited the affected communities and met with families and rescue workers, describing the situation as deeply distressing. Support services have been offered to those impacted as the search and recovery effort continues.