New Zealand police have found human remains beneath mud and debris from a landslide that struck a campsite in the popular holiday spot of Mount Maunganui, and are now moving to recover more victims.
Efforts to rescue at least six people buried alive at the park ended on Saturday.
Police Superintendent Tim Anderson said it could take several days to locate all of the bodies, after a mountain of dirt and debris tumbled onto a campsite in Mount Maunganui on Thursday.
Anderson said it was “heartbreaking” that six people remained unaccounted for, including a 15-year-old, after camper vans, caravans and a shower block were buried in a mudslide brought on by heavy rain.
For the past two days, the holiday town in the northern part of the country has staged a series of vigils, holding out hope that the search and rescue personnel would be successful.
Anderson said, however, it had become apparent there was little chance anyone buried had survived.
Tim Anderson, Landslide, Christopher Luxon, North Island, New Zealand police, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, New Zealand#Zealand #landslide #human #remains #operations #move #rescue #recovery1769219781
Christopher Luxon
Human
Landslide
Mount Maunganui
move
New Zealand
New Zealand police
North Island
operations
recovery
remains
rescue
Tauranga
Tim Anderson
Zealand
