Canyon Disaster in New Zealand–Five Teens Dead, Three More Missing–All From Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Center

Update: For the latest news on this tragedy, the New Zealand Herald has been making hourly reports with updates.  At this time, they are reporting 7 deaths–6 students and one teacher.  All have been accounted for.

A desperate search and rescue effort is currently taking place on New Zealand’s North Island. A group from the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Center, who were attending a week long outdoors education course, has been hit with tragedy. Five people are dead, three others missing.

A canyoning trip–which involves scrambling, sliding or abseiling down riverbeds and waterfalls–has become a nightmare for the 40 students and teachers attending the week-long course.

It is thought that the students in Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoors Pursuit Center had become the tragic victims of a massive flash flood in the area as they were in the midst of their canyoning trip. One group had become separated from the rest and did not show up to join the others at the end of the trip-

Police and Search and Rescue authorities are currently conducting a massive search and rescue effort in the area, trying to find the remaining three missing teenagers. Police have confirmed that four bodies were pulled from the river lastnight, with another being found in a hole, under the surface of the Mangatepopo River, which is currently being extracted.

From The Age:

“Bad weather was hampering the search and had prevented a
helicopter from helping police search and rescue crews, who were
last night searching the area on foot. Police said the children
were well equipped, wearing thermal clothing, wetsuits,
life-jackets and harnesses.

Inspector Mastrovich said the instructor made an emergency call,
via radio, when the river came up suddenly — giving searchers
just two hours of daylight. “The river rose dramatically, quite
quickly,” he said.

A Taumarunui police spokeswoman said the terrain was rugged and
being pelted by very heavy rain. “Everyone has gone flat tack to
get to the various areas and the various bridges and look for these
children.

It is noted that the group was warned about a possible flash flood scenario by police. Tongariro River Rafting, a river expedition company that runs rafts in the area, had ceased operations yesterday as the weather continued to decline due to high river levels.

The Tongariro region had received half the total April amont of rainfall in under 24 hours, with over 100 millimeters of rainfall measured, 32 of that coming down in a two hour period yesterday betwen 12 noon and 2 pm.

Most of the students involved were from the Elim Christian College.

Let’s keep our thoughts and Prayers on the teens, family, and friends of those affected by this tragic incident, as well as on the faculty and students of Elim Christian College as they all try to make sense of this accident. Let’s also remember the Search and Rescue Personnel involved in the continuing efforts to find the remaining students and wish them the best in our Prayers as well.