Rescue Efforts Underway After Landslide in New Zealand Campsite

A devastating landslide struck a campsite in northern New Zealand on October 12, 2023, leaving multiple individuals unaccounted for beneath several tonnes of mud. The landslide occurred at the base of the extinct volcano Mount Maunganui, burying facilities including a shower block and damaging camper vans and a pool complex. Witnesses reported hearing voices calling for help from under the debris shortly after the disaster unfolded.

Assistant Police Commissioner Tim Anderson confirmed that rescue efforts were ongoing, stating, “Whilst the land’s still moving there, they’re in a rescue mission.” He refrained from providing specific numbers regarding the missing, indicating that they were in the “single figures.” Emergency responders utilized heavy machinery to facilitate the search for survivors in the aftermath of heavy rainfall that hit the area overnight.

In a related incident, another landslide impacted a home in nearby Tauranga, where two residents managed to escape, although two others remain unaccounted for. The response team faced challenges due to the unstable ground, as rescuers were seen cutting through the wreckage of the shower block to search for those trapped.

Visitors to the site recounted their harrowing experiences. Canadian tourist Dion Siluch, aged 34, described how he was enjoying a massage at the Mount Hot Pools complex when the landslide hit. “I was in a massage at the mount pools and the whole room started shaking,” he said. Siluch recounted the chaotic scene, noting that a caravan ended up in the pool and a mudslide narrowly missed him. “It took me a while to realise that the mountain had collapsed and had pushed everything into the pool,” he added.

“I could just hear people screaming, so I just parked up and ran to help,”

said hiker Mark Tangney, who witnessed panicked campers fleeing the site. Tangney was among the first responders, joining others on the roof of the shower block in an effort to assist those trapped. “We could hear people screaming: ‘Help us, help us, get us out of here,’” he recalled, noting that the cries for help eventually ceased.

Fire and Emergency commander William Pike confirmed that initial responders reported hearing voices from the wreckage but had to withdraw due to the risk of further landslides. “Our initial fire crew arrived and were able to hear the same,” Pike noted, but added that no further voices had been detected since the early moments of the rescue operation.

As rescue teams continued their efforts, the situation remained precarious, with officials emphasizing the need for safety amid ongoing geological instability. The community and rescue workers are rallying to support those affected as they face an uncertain wait for news about their loved ones.