Recovery of NZ landslide victims halted on safety concerns

Sydney: New Zealand authorities suspended recovery efforts on Sunday for victims of a landslide that hit a busy campground on the country’s North Island.

Six people, including two teenagers, are presumed dead after heavy rains triggered Thursday’s landslide at Mount Maunganui on the island’s east coast, bringing down soil and rubble at the site in the city of Tauranga, crowded with families on summer holidays.

Authorities have been working to identify the victims after human remains were found at the site on Saturday.

But a crack found at the site prompted recovery work to cease for the day on Sunday, police Superintendent Tim Anderson said.

“As a result of that, we’ve had to pull all our staff out,” Anderson told reporters at Mount Maunganui, adding, “We’ve had to do that for the safety of everyone concerned.”

He did not specify when work would resume, saying the authorities were taking it “day by day at the moment”.

Police earlier said it was unlikely that any of those missing were still alive. No signs of life had been detected from the rubble since voices were heard by first responders on Thursday.

NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who visited the site on Friday and met with the families of the victims, said it was “devastating to receive the news we have all been dreading”.

“To the families who have lost loved ones – every New Zealander is grieving with you,” Luxon posted on X.

Chief Coroner Anna Tutton said her office was working to identify victims.

“I can’t say how long the identification process will take – but I give my absolute assurance that we will work very carefully,” Tutton said in a statement.

The heavy rain this week unleashed another landslide in the neighbouring suburb of Papamoa, killing two.

Reuters

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