Human remains have been found under debris at the site of the landslide that devastated a campground on New Zealand's North Island three days ago.
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said emergency services personnel located the remains overnight.
The landslide at Mount Maunganui, about three hours south of Auckland on the island's east coast, brought soil and rubble onto the campsite in the city of Tauranga on Thursday about 9:30am, local time.
Superintendent Anderson said the search was moving into a recovery phase.
"This is heartbreaking news for us," he said.
"And obviously, the families involved."
Authorities have released the names and ages of the six people unaccounted-for.
They are:
- Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, from Morrinsville, New Zealand
- Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, from Sweden
- Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, from Rotorua, New Zealand
- Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, from Ngongotaha, New Zealand
- Sharon Maccanico, 15, from Auckland, New Zealand
- Max Furse-Kee, 15, from Auckland, New Zealand
The two teens were both students at Auckland's Pakuranga College, which has posted a tribute on its Instagram page.
"It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of two Pakuranga College students, Max Furse-Kee and Sharon Maccanico," the post said.
"The college has been in contact with both families to express our heartfelt sympathy."
Remains handed to coroner
Chief Coroner Judge Anna Tutton said a "painstakingly complex" process of identifying the remains would now take place.
"This is an unimaginably terrible time for those people who have lost the people they love," she said.
She said care would be taken to ensure any bodies found would be treated with dignity and any specific cultural needs would be adhered to as best as possible.
"The victims who have died will be transported to the mortuary at Hamilton and kept there until they are able to be reunited with their families."
She said authorities would work as quickly as possible, while taking care to ensure identifications were accurate.
With more rain in the area overnight and another small landslip, Superintendent Anderson said his main concerns were around the safety of search crews.
"The likelihood of someone being alive is unlikely according to the experts, but you can never rule that out," he said.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale said an official review into the incident would take place.
"It is important that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the facts and events leading up to the landslide, so that we can ensure that the future safety of the community is appropriately safeguarded," Mr Drysdale said.
"As Council, on behalf of the families and the whole community, we need to understand the facts and ensure that in the lead-up to this tragedy, everything was done that was appropriate in the circumstances."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealand was "full of grief", describing what happened at Mount Maunganui as "an absolute tragedy."
He spent the morning with families of some of those missing who were "waiting for their loved ones to be accounted for and are missing."
"They are grieving incredibly hard, and I know that New Zealand grieves with them," Mr Luxon said on Friday.
He said that road access, flooding and further landslides remained problems in the region.
Landslides elsewhere in the region killed at least two people.
ABC/Radio New Zealand
