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Deadly Landslides in New Zealand Leave Two dead, Several Missing
MLN -22 JAN 2026:Two people have died and several others remain missing after landslides struck parts of New Zealand’s North Island following days of heavy rainfall, authorities said Thursday.
The confirmed deaths occurred in Welcome Bay, while emergency crews continued searching through debris at a separate landslide site at a popular campground on Mount Maunganui, according to officials. Authorities said there were currently no, signs of life, at the campground site and that the missing group includes, at least one young girl, though an exact number has not yet been confirmed.
The landslides were triggered by intense rainfall that caused flooding and widespread power outages across the North Island. A state of emergency has been declared in the Bay of Plenty region, where Mount Maunganui is located, as well as in other affected areas including Northland, Coromandel, Tairāwhiti and Hauraki, officials said.
Footage from Mount Maunganui showed rescue teams and sniffer dogs searching through crushed caravans and collapsed tents near the base of the volcanic dome. Megan Stiffler, deputy national commander of Urban Search and Rescue, said the operation remains dangerous.
“This is a complex and high-risk environment, and our teams are working to achieve the best possible outcome while keeping everyone safe,” Stiffler said.
Prime Minister Christopher said the country was, heavy with grief, following what he described as a “profound tragedy,” in a post on social media.
Several regions recorded their wettest days on record, local media reported. Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty, received rainfall equivalent to about three months in a single day. Radio New Zealand reported that roughly 8,000 customers were without power as of Thursday morning.
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said the storms had affected much of the eastern coastline of the North Island, calling it “a very big event for us as a country,” according to RNZ.
Authorities warned that further landslides remain possible and urged residents in affected areas to follow evacuation orders and safety guidance.
