• Heavy rains trigger landslides killing two and leaving others missing
• Rescue teams face challenges due to moving mud and ongoing hazards

Heavy rains in northern New Zealand on Thursday caused landslides that swept through a home and a campsite, killing at least two people and leaving others missing under tons of mud.

Rescue teams used heavy machinery to dig through the displaced earth following overnight rainfall on Wednesday.

Authorities were able to recover two bodies from a buried home in the coastal city of Tauranga, police said, adding that “police are working to support the families of the victims during this difficult time.”

Police also reported that several people remain missing after a section of Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano, slid into a nearby popular campsite.

The region is a major summer tourist destination, with hikers climbing the mountain and thousands drawn to its white sandy beaches.

Witnesses and emergency personnel confirmed hearing cries for help from beneath the debris, as mud swept through communal showers, overturned caravans, and spread into a neighboring heated pool complex.

Assistant Police Commissioner Tim Anderson told reporters, “The ground is still moving, and the rescue team is on site. I cannot give exact numbers of the missing, but they are in single figures,” noting that a young girl is among them.

Tourists and witnesses described chaotic scenes as some rushed to help those trapped under the rubble, while fire crews had to pull everyone back due to ongoing dangers.

Fire Commander William Pike said, “Our initial teams were able to hear cries for help, but we withdrew later to protect everyone from hazardous ground movements.”

Some hikers documented desperate attempts to rescue those trapped, lifting damaged roofs to hear or reach those beneath, before the sounds ceased, according to witnesses.