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 the 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.
Authorities said that the search would continue through the night. The extinct volcano is a sacred Māori site and one of the most popular campgrounds in New Zealand, which has been repeatedly hit by landslides in recent years.
A surf club in another part of Mount Maunganui has been evacuated following fears of more landslides. A state of emergency has been declared in the Bay of Plenty where Mount Maunganui sits, and various parts of the North Island.
Many residents are still recovering from previous storms, as heavy rains and extreme weather patterns have become more prevalent in recent years.
