Key Takeaways:
- A landslide occurred at Mount Maunganui on New Zealand’s North Island, causing widespread destruction and leaving multiple people missing.
- An Australian tourist, Sonny Worrall, narrowly escaped the disaster while swimming in a pool, describing the scene as "like a movie".
- Emergency services are working to rescue those trapped, with voices initially heard in the rubble, but no survivors have been recovered yet.
- The landslide is believed to have been caused by heavy rains, which have also caused widespread damage, evacuations, and power outages in the region.
- Authorities are urging residents and visitors to listen to advice from local officials and take it seriously, with the Prime Minister actively monitoring the situation.
Introduction to the Disaster
The recent landslide at Mount Maunganui on New Zealand’s North Island has left a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake. The disaster occurred at approximately 9:30 am, with multiple people reported missing after a massive landslide wiped out parts of the Beachside Holiday Park. The park, a popular tourist spot in the Bay of Plenty region, was severely affected, with a caravan smashing through a cinder block wall and crashing down beside a pool where an Australian tourist, Sonny Worrall, was swimming.
Eyewitness Accounts
Sonny Worrall, from Newcastle, described the terrifying experience, saying he had to dive into the next pool to avoid being struck. He recounted the scene as "like a movie", with trees cracking and a caravan almost hitting him. Worrall expressed his fear for his life, stating it was the scariest thing he had ever felt. Another eyewitness, Penny Carnaby, who was in an apartment across the road, heard a loud crack and rushed to the verandah, witnessing the devastation unfold. She described the scene as "horrific", with people running and screaming as the landslide continued to move.
Emergency Response
Emergency services, including Fire and Emergency NZ, quickly responded to the scene, with commander William Pike stating that voices were initially heard in the rubble. However, no survivors have been recovered yet, and the search efforts are ongoing. Pike noted that the slip was still moving when emergency services arrived, and they had to withdraw everyone from the site due to possible movement and slip. The police are working closely with Fire and Emergency NZ, and authorities are urging residents and visitors to listen to advice from local officials and take it seriously.
Government Response
The New Zealand government is actively monitoring the situation, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stating that he is "actively monitoring situations across the country – including the major incident in Mt Maunganui". The Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell, described the past 24 hours as "challenging and difficult", with the east coast of the North Island being smashed by devastating weather. The government has also announced that it is making urgent inquiries with local authorities to determine whether any Australians have been affected.
Weather Conditions
The landslide is believed to have been caused by heavy rains, which have also caused widespread damage, evacuations, and power outages in the region. New Zealand forecaster MetService has lifted all weather warnings in the North Island as the tropical low moves east, but some warnings remain in place for the South Island. The weather conditions are expected to ease on Thursday, but authorities are warning of potential further disruptions.
Search and Rescue Efforts
The search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with emergency services working to rescue those trapped. The police are urging anyone with information about the missing people to come forward, and the government is providing support to those affected. The situation is being closely monitored, and authorities are working to determine the cause of the landslide and prevent similar incidents in the future. As the search efforts continue, the community is coming together to support those affected, and the international community is offering assistance to New Zealand during this difficult time.
