Catastrophe struck New Zealand’s vacationers when a landslide obliterated sections of Beachside Holiday Park in Bay of Plenty. Thursday’s event near Mount Maunganui left many, kids included, missing after extreme weather unleashed chaos.
Triggered by Tauranga’s 24-hour rainfall record of 270mm, the 9:30 AM slide pummeled campervans, cars, tents, pools, and showers with earth and rock. Fire and Emergency’s William Paike noted early survivor signals that faded, leaving searches grim.
Mark Mitchell, Emergency Minister, branded it tragic, with round-the-clock efforts persisting. Swift evacuations followed the rumble, as services comb for trapped souls.
North Island reels from floods: outages darken homes for thousands, communities cut off in Northland and east. PM Luxon tweeted weather peril warnings and aid commitments.
The week’s Mount Maunganui torrent equaled 75 days’ rain in 12 hours—a benchmark of peril. Mayor Mahé Drysdale, pained, prioritizes lives. It spotlights vulnerabilities in popular getaways.
Heavy equipment and specialists press on, but outcomes look bleak. This saga grips the nation, spurring debates on weather readiness and eco-impacts. Solidarity grows for the afflicted.