New Zealand landslide: human remains found as operations move from rescue to recovery
A Chinese national died in another landslide near the Mount Maunganui campsite, both triggered by Thursday’s heavy rains
Efforts to rescue at least six people buried alive at the park ended on Saturday.
Police Superintendent Tim Anderson said it could take several days to locate all of the bodies, after a mountain of dirt and debris tumbled onto a campsite in Mount Maunganui on Thursday.
Anderson said it was “heartbreaking” that six people remained unaccounted for, including a 15-year-old, after camper vans, caravans and a shower block were buried in a mudslide brought on by heavy rain.
For the past two days, the holiday town in the northern part of the country has staged a series of vigils, holding out hope that the search and rescue personnel would be successful.
Anderson said, however, it had become apparent there was little chance anyone buried had survived.