A search operation for six individuals presumed dead following a landslide at a popular New Zealand campsite has resumed after being temporarily halted due to unsafe conditions. The landslide occurred at Beachside Holiday Park, located at the foot of Mount Maunganui, during a severe summer storm that struck the North Island on January 25, 2024.
The missing persons, whose ages range from 15 to 71, include a Swedish tourist and a teenager from Italy. Search efforts were paused over the weekend as authorities assessed the stability of the ground, which remained precarious. Resuming on Monday, recovery teams faced challenging conditions, with police Superintendent Tim Anderson emphasizing the need for improved weather to facilitate the search. “Moisture is the enemy at this point,” he stated. “The ground is saturated, and what we need is days of fine weather.”
The landslide released a massive wave of mud that impacted the campsite, a scenic location named after an extinct volcano. Images from the scene depict vehicles, travel trailers, and an amenities block crushed under the debris. Initially, rescuers reported hearing voices beneath the rubble, but by Saturday, authorities expressed doubts about the survival of those missing.
The individuals reported missing are: Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50; Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20; Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71; Susan Doreen Knowles, 71; Sharon Maccanico, 15; and Max Furse-Kee, 15.
This tragedy unfolded during New Zealand’s peak summer holiday period, exacerbated by record rainfall in parts of the North Island. The city of Tauranga, where Mount Maunganui is situated, experienced its wettest 24-hour period since 1910. Alongside the six missing individuals, the storm has been linked to the deaths of three others in the region. On the same day as the landslide, two people lost their lives when a landslide buried a house in nearby Papamoa. A day earlier, a man from Kiribati was swept away by floodwaters in New Zealand’s far north, with his body discovered on Saturday.
The severe weather has raised questions regarding the adequacy of evacuation measures prior to the landslide. The fire service reported that it had communicated a warning about a potential slip near the holiday park to the local Tauranga City Council four hours before the landslide occurred. In response to the incident, the council has announced plans for an independent inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
As the search continues, the impact on the local community is profound. Families and friends of the missing are holding onto hope while authorities navigate the complexities of recovery in a landscape altered by recent weather events. Efforts will persist, with officials reiterating their commitment to finding the missing individuals and providing closure to their loved ones.
