Several people are unaccounted for after a slip hit a holiday park in Mount Maunganui this morning.
Emergency services were called to Beachside Holiday Park on Adams Ave just after 9.30am.
"The campsite has been evacuated, and Adams Ave is closed while emergency services work to locate anybody who remains in the area," a police spokesperson said.
Hato Hone St John responded with eight emergency vehicles, including a helicopter, four ambulances, one rapid response unit, and two operations managers.
Tauranga City Council said the incident was an "evolving situation" and confirmed that several people were unaccounted for.
"We are on site and working with emergency services to gather more information and provide support."
It said that most people had been evacuated from the holiday park.
"Our campground staff are prioritising working out which campgrounds sites have been affected.
"We ask that the community please stay away from the area, including any customers who have a booking at Mount Holiday Park."
Australian tourist Sonny Worrall, 17, told 1News he was swimming in the hot pools at the time of the landslide.
"I looked behind me and there was a huge landslide coming down." he said.
"I was fearing for my life. I had to jump out of my seat as fast as I could and just run."
Worrall said he witnessed people screaming and running from the campsite, and that it "all happened in a flash".
"It was the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my life."
MP for Bay of Plenty Tom Rutherford said online that caravans, the toilet block, cars, and tents at the Adams Ave address have been affected.
"Please keep those impacted in your thoughts. Avoid the area to allow responders clear access."
The campground would be closed until further notice. Members of the public have been advised to avoid the area.
States of Emergency remain in place for Northland, Coromandel, Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty and Hauraki, following severe weather overnight.
Follow 1News' live updates on today's weather here
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