Rescue efforts called off for six buried in Mount Maunganui holiday park landslide

Police called off rescue efforts on Saturday for six people buried by a landslide at a holiday park in Mount Maunganui and shifted the operation to recovery, authorities said. Police Supt Tim Anderson said human remains had been uncovered on Friday night beneath the mountains of dirt and debris that crashed into the campsite on Thursday and that it could take several days to locate all victims because of unstable ground.

He described it as "heartbreaking" that six people remained unaccounted for, including a 15-year-old, after camper vans, caravans and a shower block were buried, and said it was now "highly unlikely" that more than six people had been caught under the landslide. Anderson said his primary consideration was the safety of staff working on site and that strict parameters were in place.

The remains will be transported to a mortuary in Hamilton, and chief coroner Anna Tutton warned the identification process could be "painful" and "lengthy". The holiday town held a series of vigils over two days as search and rescue personnel worked, and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said "every New Zealander has been hoping for a miracle" and that the switch to a recovery operation was "the news we have all been dreading." More poor weather, including possible thunderstorms and hail, was forecast and could hamper recovery work.

Key Topics

World, Mount Maunganui Landslide, Tim Anderson, Anna Tutton, Christopher Luxon, Tauranga