New Zealand rescuers have suspended a desperate search for a teenage boy feared lost in a flooded cave north of Auckland.
Police confirmed late on Tuesday afternoon (AEST) that the search for the year 11 student had been called off, for the day.
“Search and Rescue, USAR, Fire and Emergency, alongside Police, have been searching for the unaccounted student this afternoon since reports were initially received around 10.26am this morning,” NZ police said.
“The search is expected to resume at first light tomorrow and a cordon will remain in place this evening and overnight.”
The missing boy is feared to have been washed away by floodwaters in the flood-prone Abbey Caves near Whangarei, about three hours north of Auckland.
He was among a group of 14 students and two teachers from Whangarei Boys’ High School who reported getting into difficulty on Tuesday morning.
“A group of people have since made it out safely. However, one student is currently unaccounted for,” Northland Police district commander superintendent Tony Hill said.
“The incident is still very much developing and we will provide further updates as they become available. Our thoughts are with the [family] of the missing child, as well as all those involved in the group outing and the school.”
One group from the school reportedly visited the caves on Monday, with the second group heading in on Tuesday morning.
“An event occurred today that is hugely upsetting for our school,” school principal Karen Gilbert-Smith said.
“An Outdoor Education class attended Abbey Caves this morning on a caving trip and encountered a severe weather event.
“One of our students is currently missing after encountering the weather event. Search and Rescue are currently searching for the young person.”
Ms Gilbert-Smith said the event was “hugely upsetting for all concerned”.
“In time we will seek to understand how this situation occurred, but for now I ask that we stay united as a WBHS community and provide support where required,” she said.
The father of the missing boy has reportedly spent the day outside the caves with rescuers.
The search came as thunderstorms brought torrential rain and flooding to Auckland and much of the northern North Island on Tuesday. A state of emergency was declared in New Zealand’s biggest city on Tuesday afternoon as roads and waterways flooded.
It is the third state of emergency for Auckland due to extreme weather so far in 2023.
The area around the caves is also reportedly flooded, with small streams turning into torrents of water. One local resident said it had rained in the area all day, and was the deluge was getting heavier as the rescue got underway.
The local council said on Tuesday that the storms had caused “widespread surface flooding” across its region. Whangarei had 60 millimetres of rain in the three hours to midday Tuesday.
“We advise a high level of caution, especially when near waterways or using roads,” the council said.
Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo said the council was “deeply concerned about the events at Abbey Caves today. Our hearts go out to all those involved.”
One parent whose son is in the same year as the missing student told NZ news website it was “bloody mental” that the school group went into the caves.
“It shouldn’t have happened, full stop,” she said.
A specialist cave rescue team has reportedly been brought in by Police Land Search and Rescue. Ambulances and firefighters could also be seen at the caves, the NZ Herald reported.
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Storms lash North Island
The Northland emergency came as the top half of North Island was struck by severe thunderstorms on Tuesday.
New Zealand’s MetService issued a rare red warning – saved for the most destructive weather events – due to the severe storms passing through the region.
The transport agency reported significant delays on Auckland motorways due to flooding and accidents across the region.
Many ferry and train services were suspended and motorists urged to delay any non-essential travel.
The weather prompted Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown to make an emergency declaration.
He was widely criticised for delaying a similar call during record flooding in January, when four men were killed in floodwaters.
The front is expected to lash the northern North Island until Tuesday night, before easing.
-with AAP
