New Zealand Rescuers Sift Rubble for Landslide Survivors

The Chronify

January 22, 2026

Rescue teams are searching through debris at a campsite in New Zealand after a rain-triggered landslide left several people missing, including children. Authorities say the number of missing is in single digits, and hopes remain that survivors may still be found.

Rescue workers in New Zealand continued combing through rubble on Thursday at a campsite following a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall, as efforts intensified to locate those still missing.

The landslide struck on Wednesday at the tourist destination of Mount Maunganui, prompting evacuations of nearby homes and the closure of several roads. Heavy rain lashed almost the entire eastern seaboard of the North Island, snapping power links and causing widespread damage. Media reports said around 8,000 people remain without electricity, down from 16,000 earlier.

Emergency services said earthmoving equipment would be used to remove layers of debris as rescue teams work through the night.
“This is a complex and high-risk environment,” said Megan Stiffler, a fire and emergency services official. “The teams will be operating overnight until the search is complete.”

Police Superintendent Tim Anderson told a press conference that the number of missing remains in the “single figures,” adding, “It is possible we could find someone alive.”

Helicopters and search-and-rescue dogs have been deployed across the affected area to assist in the operation. Authorities said no deaths have yet been confirmed, as rescue efforts continue amid challenging conditions.