Key Takeaways
- A landslide has occurred at a campground in Mount Maunganui, resulting in several people being unaccounted for
- A young girl is among the missing, and other children may also be unaccounted for
- Emergency services, including sniffer dogs, are on the scene trying to locate anyone trapped in the slip
- The slip came down around 9:30am, hitting campervans, cars, tents, and a toilet and shower block
- The rest of the campsite has been evacuated, and the Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club is being used as a triage centre and evacuation point
Introduction to the Incident
Several people are unaccounted for following a landslide that came down on a campground at the base of Mauao, Mount Maunganui. The incident occurred around 9:30am, hitting several structures at the Beachside Holiday Park, including campervans, cars, tents, and a toilet and shower block. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has confirmed that a young girl is among the missing, and RNZ understands that other children may also be unaccounted for. The situation is still evolving, and emergency services are working to locate anyone trapped in the slip.
Eyewitness Accounts
A Tauranga resident living near the campground, Robyn, reported seeing emergency staff digging through the mud in an attempt to locate anyone trapped. She said that people were digging through the dirt for about an hour before stopping, and she saw ambulances leaving the scene without anybody inside. However, police were still at the scene, and the situation was being closely monitored. Another witness, Nix Jaques, was about to walk up the mountain when she heard an incredibly loud noise and saw the land coming down onto some structures. She reported seeing vehicles being moved and a campervan being shifted, and she believed that there were people in the showers at the time of the incident.
Response and Rescue Efforts
The emergency services have responded quickly to the incident, with 40 firefighters, including an urban search and rescue team, attending the scene. St John has declared a major incident, and there are police, firefighters, and ambulance workers on site. The Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club is being used as a triage centre and evacuation point, and the rest of the campsite has been evacuated. Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford has confirmed that there are people unaccounted for and has asked members of the public to keep those impacted in their thoughts and to avoid coming to the area to allow clear access for rescuers.
Ongoing Situation
Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale has described the situation as evolving, with emergency services working to locate anyone trapped in the slip. He said that the ablution block is the biggest area of concern, but there are also campervans and tents that were in the area that have been affected. The exact number of people unaccounted for is not yet known, as emergency services are still working to check the lists of those who were checked in at the campground. Sniffer dogs are being used to help locate anyone trapped, and the situation is being closely monitored by emergency services.
Conclusion and Ongoing Support
The incident at the Beachside Holiday Park in Mount Maunganui is a developing situation, and emergency services are working to locate anyone trapped in the slip. The community is being asked to keep those impacted in their thoughts, and to avoid coming to the area to allow clear access for rescuers. The situation is being closely monitored, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. In the meantime, the focus is on locating anyone trapped and providing support to those affected by the incident.
