Rescue efforts for six missing people buried by a landslide in New Zealand on Thursday have been called off, with efforts now moving to recovering bodies, police have said.
Tragically it is now apparent that we will not be able to bring them home alive, Anderson stated, mentioning that formal identification is underway.
Among those unaccounted for are two teenagers, the youngest being only 15 years old.
Search teams located human remains beneath dirt and debris on Friday evening, Police Superintendent Tim Anderson confirmed, after a landslide hit a popular campsite in Mount Maunganui.
This is heartbreaking news for the families and the dozens of people who have been working day and night, hoping for a positive outcome, Anderson stated.
In a separate landslide incident nearby, two individuals, a grandmother and her grandchild, lost their lives, as reported by public broadcaster Radio New Zealand (RNZ).
Heavy rains have been affecting New Zealand's North Island for days, with more wet weather predicted for the weekend, further complicating rescue operations. Police described the conditions at Mount Maunganui as incredibly challenging... to work through.
Emergency services worked tirelessly through the night to locate those unaccounted for before the operation was officially handed over to police. Safety for ground personnel remains a top priority.
Authorities confirmed the identities of the missing individuals, including Lisa Anne Maclennan (50) from Morrinsville, Måns Loke Bernhardsson (20) from Sweden, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler (71) from Rotorua, Susan Doreen Knowles (71) from Ngongotaha, and the two young victims, Sharon Maccanico and Max Furse-Kee, both 15 years old from Auckland.
Chief Coroner Judge Anna Tutton acknowledged that the identification process could be complex and prolonged, stating, We will work very carefully - and as quickly as we can - to reunite families. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited the site on Friday, commending the community support seen as locals assisted in debris removal in flood-stricken regions.
Mount Maunganui is a culturally significant Māori site and one of New Zealand's most frequented campgrounds, which has faced multiple landslides in recent years.
