Truemors
This story is constantly changing with how many dead, if anyone else has news reported after 7:50 am, please add:
The New Zealand newspapers are reporting fewer students dead than Reuters AlertNet, who are now reporting 10 teenagers missing from the group.
Search and rescue teams and a helicopter equipped with night vision are looking for the missing teenagers. I've also included up-to-the-minute photographs from the New Zealand Herald.
AT least five New Zealand high school students are dead after being swept away in a raging river during a canyoning trip in the North Island.
The students, from Auckland's Elim Christian College, were part of a 40-strong group on an outward bound river trip with the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre.
Another two students, aged 16 to 17, from the college are believed to be missing, the Associated Press reported.
It seems that a group of 40 including teachers, were on a canyoning trip down the Mangatepopo River near Tongariro, that went horribly wrong.
Last night bad weather had put an end to search efforts, rescuers hoping to resume today if conditions improve.
It is believed the group became separated from a larger group and swept away by rising waters.
Before the discovery of the five bodies, the school's principal, Murray Burton, confirmed students from his school were among those involved in the canyoning.
He said the students did not show up to be collected along with other students at the end of the activity late in the afternoon.
Mr Burton was informed they were missing about 5.50pm.
The weather had rapidly turned into violent storms, which had caused widespread flooding in New Zealand's North Island, sweeping the teenagers away down the Magatepopo Gorge in a raging torrent of death.
Did the teachers not get a weather report prior to the trip?
According to Reuters, the area in which it happened is rugged and sparsely populated, near a national park.
"At this stage a search is being conducted to locate these youths," said Taumarunui Police Inspector Steve Mastrovich.
"A helicopter swept the river before dark and another machine with night vision capability is en route. The weather is poor and this is hampering the search," he said in a statement.
Also deployed are rescue teams on foot.
6 horse riders were also caught in the storm, with one rider together with his horse, being killed by a lightning strike.
Northland Hunt spokeswoman Donna Austin, said:
"It was the most bizarre weather patterns, forked lightning, the lot and that is when the gentleman was struck and killed and so was his horse"
Reuters Alert Net
Ten Students Missing in New Zealand River Flood
by Adrian Bathgate
News.com.au
Students Killed in River Tragedy
By staff writers
New Zealand Herald
Four Students, One Teacher Dead in River Tragedy
by Elizabeth Binning
Times Online
Five Students Die in Canyoning Tragedy
IMAGE SOURCES:
New Zealand Herald
Four Students, One Teacher Dead in River Tragedy
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