Rescue efforts for six missing people buried by a landslide in New Zealand on Thursday have been called off, with efforts now moving to recovering bodies, police have said.
"Tragically it is now apparent that we will not be able to bring them home alive," Anderson said, adding that formal identification is underway.
Two teenagers are among those who remain unaccounted for, with the youngest aged 15 years old.
Search teams located human remains beneath dirt and debris on Friday evening, Police Superintendent Tim Anderson said, after a landslide hit a popular campsite in Mount Maunganui.
"This is heartbreaking news for the families and the dozens of people who have been working day and night, hoping for a positive outcome," Anderson said.
