Rescue Efforts Intensify After Deadly Landslides Strike New Zealand’s North Island

Two people have been confirmed dead and several others are feared missing following a series of landslides triggered by days of relentless heavy rainfall across New Zealand’s North Island, as emergency services continue extensive search and rescue operations in difficult conditions.

Authorities said the two fatalities were recorded in Welcome Bay, where large volumes of earth and debris swept through parts of the community. Meanwhile, rescue teams remain on the ground at a separate and highly concerning site at a popular campground on Mount Maunganui, where several people are believed to be buried beneath rubble. Despite the lack of “signs of life” so far, officials say efforts are continuing with urgency and care.

Emergency services have indicated they have a preliminary understanding of how many people may be unaccounted for, though they are awaiting confirmation before releasing exact figures. They have disclosed only that the group of missing individuals includes “at least one young girl,” a detail that has deepened concern nationwide and reinforced the resolve of rescue crews working around the clock.

The landslides are part of a broader weather emergency caused by days of intense rainfall, which has led to widespread flooding, road closures, and power outages across much of the North Island. Entire communities have been cut off, and infrastructure damage remains extensive in several regions. One government minister described scenes along the east coast as resembling “a war zone,” underscoring the scale of the destruction left behind by the storms.

Despite the severity of the situation, authorities have praised the rapid mobilisation of emergency responders, local volunteers, and support agencies. Heavy machinery, specialist search teams, and welfare services have been deployed, while affected residents are being offered shelter, food, and medical assistance as conditions allow.

Officials have also emphasised that safety remains the top priority, with ongoing assessments of unstable ground and the risk of further slips as rain continues in some areas. Communities have been urged to follow evacuation orders and official guidance as recovery and rescue efforts progress.