A devastating landslide at a popular campsite in New Zealand has left six individuals, including teenagers, missing and unaccounted for, as rescue efforts continue.
Emergency teams swiftly responded to the incident at Mount Maunganui on Thursday morning, where the land shifted, triggering a massive search operation to locate those trapped under the debris.
New Zealand authorities have confirmed that among the missing are six individuals, including two teenagers, with the youngest being a 15-year-old. Additionally, it is suspected that three other missing persons, believed to be tourists, had left the area before the landslide occurred.
Following torrential downpours that caused severe destruction, emergency services worked tirelessly to sift through the wreckage at the site, located approximately 240 kilometers southeast of Auckland, a popular spot for tourists.
Local reports detailed the harrowing scene as cries for help emerged from the rubble, with witnesses describing the landslide engulfing tents, campervans, and other structures. A local fisherman recounted hearing the sounds of falling trees and witnessing the hillside collapse, trapping individuals in its wake.
The region experienced unprecedented rainfall, with a staggering amount of rain equivalent to two-and-a-half months’ worth falling within a mere 12-hour period, leading to the tragic event.
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