Tragedy Strikes New Zealand: Landslides Claim Lives and Leave Many Missing

Thu Jan 29 2026 20:19:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A series of devastating landslides in New Zealand's North Island has led to two confirmed deaths and multiple individuals missing, prompting a nationwide outpouring of grief.

In the wake of catastrophic landslides triggered by heavy rains on New Zealand's North Island, authorities have reported two fatalities and are searching for several missing persons, including a young girl. The Prime Minister described the situation as heartbreaking as heavy rains have caused widespread flooding and chaos across the region.

Two people have died and several are feared buried after landslides in New Zealand's North Island.

The deaths were reported at Welcome Bay, while rescue workers are still searching through rubble at a different site in a popular campground on Mount Maunganui.

There are no signs of life, authorities said, adding that they have a rough idea of how many people are missing but are waiting for an exact figure. They provided no other details except that the group includes at least one young girl.

The landslides were triggered by heavy rains over the last few days, which led to flooding and power outages across North Island. One minister said the east coast resembled a war zone.

New Zealand is heavy with grief after the profound tragedy caused by recent weather, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on X.

Footage from the campsite on Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano, shows a huge slip near the base of the volcanic dome, as rescuers and sniffer dogs comb through crushed caravans and flattened tents.

Authorities said that the search would continue through the night. This is a complex and high-risk environment, and our teams are working to achieve the best possible outcome while keeping everyone safe, said Megan Stiffler, the deputy national commander for the Urban Search and Rescue team.

The extinct volcano is a sacred Māori site and one of the most popular campgrounds in New Zealand, with a local holiday website describing it as a slice of paradise. But it has been repeatedly hit by landslides in recent years.

Those calls for help persisted for about half an hour and then went silent, as rescuers continue their urgent search efforts.

In a related development, a surf club in another part of Mount Maunganui has also been evacuated due to fears of further landslides.

A state of emergency has been declared across Bay of Plenty and other parts of North Island, with several areas reporting unprecedented rainfall. The situation is dire, with thousands left without power in the wake of the disaster.

Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell stated, It's been a very big event for us as a country, really hitting almost our entire eastern seaboard of the North Island. He emphasized the need for a swift and comprehensive response to the tragedy.