New Zealand authorities have begun the difficult task of identifying human remains recovered after a landslide struck a crowded campground at Mount Maunganui, on the east coast of the country’s North Island. Heavy rainfall triggered the slide in Tauranga, sending soil and debris crashing into the site where families were staying during the summer holiday period. Six people are presumed dead, including two teenagers and a 20-year-old Swedish national, after search-and-rescue operations were called off and recovery efforts commenced. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the development as “devastating” and expressed solidarity with the grieving families, saying the nation mourns with them.
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said teams had searched the debris layer by layer but detected no signs of life since early efforts. Chief Coroner Anna Tutton cautioned that the identification process would be careful and time-consuming, stressing that accuracy and dignity remain the top priority.
