Source: Radio New Zealand
All recovery operations have come to a halt at the scene of the Mount Maunganui landslide over concerns of further slips.
Staff working at the campground, where six people are unaccounted, were evacuated at 11.50am on Sunday.
In a press conference, Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson labelled the hillside as “unstable” and “unsafe”.
He said geotechnical experts spotted a crack in the hillside – left of the slip – after being called to the scene.
‘Foolish’ to continue work
Anderson told media it would be “foolish” and “negligent” to have continued work.
“I haven’t sighted the crack myself, but I have been told by experts… I have been advised that it is unsafe for anyone to work below that slip.”
Mount Maunganui recovery site. RNZ / Nick Monro
He said he understood family members of the victims may be frustrated.
“While we certainly understand the frustrations this will cause, certainly our family members wanting to get their loved one back and also our own police staff, we’ve had to do that for the safety of everyone concerned.
“Fair to say there is a degree in understanding in terms of the safety, you’re dealing with obviously a significant tragedy from a number of days ago and we are not going to add any further harm to that.”
Anderson said families of the landslide victims were informed of the halt in recovery work prior to the media stand-up.
What next?
Anderson said “equipment that can mitigate the risks that remain” was being brought to Mount Maunganui.
He said the technology was “advanced” and “sensitive”, but did not specify where it was being brought in from.
“We have a number of staff looking at that slip and monitoring the signs to keep everyone safe.”
Further daily assessments are being done by geotechnical experts to determine the next steps in the recovery operation, Anderson said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
