A landslide on New Zealand’s North Island has claimed the lives of two people, while authorities say several others may still be trapped beneath debris. Officials confirmed the deaths occurred in Welcome Bay. Rescue teams are continuing search efforts at several locations near a popular campground close to Mount Maunganui, where landslide debris remains spread across the area.
Emergency officials said there are currently “no signs of life.” They added that while they have a general idea of how many people may be missing, exact numbers have not yet been confirmed. Authorities said the group includes at least one young woman, but no further details were released.
The landslide followed several days of heavy rainfall, which has triggered flooding and power outages across large parts of the North Island. A government minister described the eastern coastal region as “looking like a war zone.”
