Two people have died and several are missing after landslides in New Zealand's North Island. The deaths were reported at Welcome Bay. Rescue workers continue searching rubble at a popular campground on Mount Maunganui. Authorities say there are no signs of life yet and they have a rough idea of missing people, including at least one young girl. Heavy rains over the past days triggered the landslides, causing floods and power cuts across the North Island. A minister described the east coast as looking like "a war zone." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealand is "heavy with grief" over the "profound tragedy." Footage from Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano and sacred Māori site, shows a large landslip near the volcanic dome. Rescuers and sniffer dogs are combing through crushed caravans and flattened tents. Megan Stiffler, deputy national commander for Urban Search and Rescue, said: "This is a complex and high-risk environment, and our teams are working to achieve the best possible outcome while keeping everyone safe." The site has seen repeated landslides in recent years. Australian tourist Sonny Worrall recalled hearing a huge tree crack and then a landslide while swimming in a hot pool. Hiker Mark Tangney told New Zealand Herald that people screamed for help from under the rubble before the cries stopped. A surf club nearby was evacuated due to fears of further landslides. A state of emergency is declared in Bay of Plenty and other parts of the North Island. Tauranga received three months’ rain in one day, leaving 8,000 people without power. A man swept away by the Mahurangi River is missing; his wife holds hope, saying he is a strong swimmer. Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell praised the quick response and preparedness. Recent years have seen more heavy rains and storms in New Zealand. This flooding adds to damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, the costliest cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere. Rescue efforts and community recovery continue amid ongoing challenges.