Two people have died and several are feared buried after landslides in New Zealand's North Island.
The deaths were reported at Welcome Bay, while rescue workers are still searching through rubble at a different site in a popular campground on Mount Maunganui.
There are no signs of life, authorities said, adding that they have a rough idea of how many people are missing but are waiting for an exact figure. They provided no other details except that the group includes at least one young girl.
The landslides were triggered by heavy rains over the last few days, which led to flooding and power outages across North Island. One minister said the east coast resembled a war zone.
New Zealand is heavy with grief after the profound tragedy caused by recent weather, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on X.
Footage from the campsite on Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano, shows a huge slip near the base of the volcanic dome, as rescuers and sniffer dogs comb through crushed caravans and flattened tents.
Authorities said that the search would continue through the night. This is a complex and high-risk environment, and our teams are working to achieve the best possible outcome while keeping everyone safe, said Megan Stiffler, the deputy national commander for the Urban Search and Rescue team.
The extinct volcano is a sacred Māori site and one of the most popular campgrounds in New Zealand. However, it has been repeatedly hit by landslides in recent years.
A local hiker described the horror of the moment: I heard this huge tree crack and all this dirt come off, and then I looked behind me and there's this huge landslide coming down, said Australian tourist Sonny Worrall.
A state of emergency has been declared in the Bay of Plenty, where Mount Maunganui is located, and in various areas across the North Island. Various regions reported their wettest days on record, with Tauranga experiencing three months worth of rain within a single day.
The wife of a man swept away in the Mahurangi River remains hopeful for his survival, recounting his training and skills as a fisherman. Efforts to locate those still missing continue amidst the ongoing threat of more landslides.
