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New Zealand volcano: At least five dead after White Island eruption New Zealand volcano: At least five dead after White Island eruption
(about 1 hour later)
A volcano has erupted in New Zealand, leaving five dead and several unaccounted for, police have said. A volcano has erupted in New Zealand, leaving five people dead and several unaccounted for, police have said.
Tourists were seen walking inside the crater of White Island volcano just moments before the eruption. Tourists were seen walking inside the crater of White Island volcano moments before Monday's eruption.
Police said 23 people had been rescued, but warned conditions were hampering the operation. The New Zealand military is now helping police. Twenty-three people have been rescued, but it is unclear how many people remain there. Police say rescuers are not able to access the island because of the risk of further eruptions.
White Island, also known as Whakaari, is one of the country's most active volcanoes. White Island, also called Whakaari, is the country's most active volcano.
Despite that, the privately-owned island is a tourist destination with frequent day tours and scenic flights available. Despite that, the privately owned island is a tourist destination with frequent day tours and scenic flights available.
In a police briefing, Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims said due to the risks, emergency services were not able to access the island. Police have said fewer than 50 people were on the island when the volcano erupted. Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims told reporters that "both New Zealand and overseas tourists" were believed to be involved.
Therefore how many people remain there is unclear, but he added that "both New Zealand and overseas tourists" were believed to be involved. Police had previously said fewer than 50 people were on the island.
He said the five people who died were "rescued from the island earlier that day".
What happened at the volcano?What happened at the volcano?
The eruption of White Island began around 14:11 local time (01:11 GMT). The eruption of White Island began at about 14:11 local time (01:11 GMT).
Visitor Michael Schade - who was on a boat leaving the island after a morning tour - filmed a thick plume of ash and smoke as the volcano erupted.Visitor Michael Schade - who was on a boat leaving the island after a morning tour - filmed a thick plume of ash and smoke as the volcano erupted.
He told the BBC he was at the crater just 30 minutes before the eruption.He told the BBC he was at the crater just 30 minutes before the eruption.
"It was still safe-ish but they were trying to limit the group sizes [of people visiting the volcano].""It was still safe-ish but they were trying to limit the group sizes [of people visiting the volcano]."
Describing the eruption, he said: "We had just got on the boat...then someone pointed it out and we saw it. I was basically just shocked. Describing the eruption, he said: "We had just got on the boat... then someone pointed it out and we saw it. I was basically just shocked. The boat turned back and we grabbed some people that were waiting on the pier."
"The boat turned back and we grabbed some people that were waiting on the pier."
Another witness, Brazilian Allessandro Kauffmann, narrowly missed the eruption.Another witness, Brazilian Allessandro Kauffmann, narrowly missed the eruption.
"There were two tours that went to this volcano today. One of them was ours, which was the first. We left five minutes before the volcano erupted," he posted on Instagram in Portuguese."There were two tours that went to this volcano today. One of them was ours, which was the first. We left five minutes before the volcano erupted," he posted on Instagram in Portuguese.
"This other tour that arrived right after, unfortunately they did not manage to leave in time, and there were some people that suffered serious burns.""This other tour that arrived right after, unfortunately they did not manage to leave in time, and there were some people that suffered serious burns."
A live feed from the volcano showed a group of visitors inside the crater before images went dark.A live feed from the volcano showed a group of visitors inside the crater before images went dark.
Who was on the island?Who was on the island?
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there were "a number" of tourists on or around the island, both from New Zealand and overseas. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: "I know there will be a huge amount of concern and anxiety for those who have loved ones at the island at that time - and I can assure them police are doing everything they can."
"I know there will be a huge amount of concern and anxiety for those who have loved ones at the island at that time - and I can assure them police are doing everything they can," she said. She said falling ash was hampering attempts by rescuers to get to the site.
She said police had launched a search and rescue operation but falling ash was hampering attempts to get to the site. The New Zealand Defence Force is now helping the rescue operation. A military plane has carried out surveillance and two helicopters and personnel are ready to assist.
The New Zealand Defence Force is now helping the rescue operation, working under the police. A military plane has carried out surveillance and two helicopters and "personnel" are ready to assist. Police initially said there were 100 people on or near the island, but later revised down the number to 50.
Police initially said there were 100 people on or near the island, then later revised down the number to 50. Some of the passengers are from the cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean. It is currently at port in Tauranga, a coastal city near White Island.
Some of the passengers are from cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean. It is currently at port in Tauranga, a coastal city near White Island.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians had "been caught up in this terrible event", adding that authorities were "working to determine their wellbeing".Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians had "been caught up in this terrible event", adding that authorities were "working to determine their wellbeing".
Was the eruption expected? Was there any forewarning of an eruption?
On 3 December, geological hazard monitoring website GeoNet warned "the volcano may be entering a period where eruptive activity is more likely than normal," although they added "the current level of activity does not pose a direct hazard to visitors". On 3 December, geological hazard monitoring website GeoNet warned "the volcano may be entering a period where eruptive activity is more likely than normal," although it added "the current level of activity does not pose a direct hazard to visitors".
Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, Jan Lindsay, said the alert level was recently raised from one to two. "There was a heightened level of unrest and everyone was aware," she said. University of Auckland associate professor Jan Lindsay said the alert level was recently raised from one to two. "There was a heightened level of unrest and everyone was aware," she said.
"It [the volcano] has a persistently active hydrothermal system...if gases build up under a block of clay or mud they can be released quite suddenly," Prof Lindsay added. "[The volcano] has a persistently active hydrothermal system... if gases build up under a block of clay or mud they can be released quite suddenly," Prof Lindsay said.
"It's possible that there's no magma involved, that it's just a phreatic eruption - a steam eruption. We don't know yet.""It's possible that there's no magma involved, that it's just a phreatic eruption - a steam eruption. We don't know yet."
When asked if visitors should have been on the island, Prof Linsday said: "It's a difficult question. It's often in a state of heightened unrest. When asked if visitors should have been on the island, Prof Lindsay said: "It's a difficult question. It's often in a state of heightened unrest.
"It's a privately-owned island and with lots of private tour operators. It is not part of the conservation estate - and so not under government control."It's a privately-owned island and with lots of private tour operators. It is not part of the conservation estate - and so not under government control.
"GNS [New Zealand's geoscience institute] put out their alert bulletins and have good communication with tour companies, and they know what the risk is. ""GNS [New Zealand's geoscience institute] put out their alert bulletins and have good communication with tour companies, and they know what the risk is. "
White Island has seen several eruptions over the years, most recently in 2016, but no one was hurt. White Island has seen several eruptions over the years, most recently in 2016, but no-one was hurt.
Police are warning people living near the area to "be aware of the potential for ashfall" and to stay indoors. Seismologist Ken Gledhill said: "It was kind of almost like a throat-clearing kind of eruption - and that's why material probably won't have made it to mainland New Zealand.
The eruption is not expected to affect North Island. "It went up about 12,000 metres into the sky and so... on the scheme of things for volcanic eruptions it's not large, but if you were close to that, it is not good."
Seismologist Ken Gledhill said: "It was kind of almost like a throat clearing kind of eruption - and that's why material probably won't have made it to mainland New Zealand.
"It went up about twelve-thousand metres in to the sky and so...on the scheme of things for volcanic eruptions it's not large, but if you were close to that it is not good."
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