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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/dec/09/new-zealand-volcano-tourists-injured-and-missing-after-eruption-on-white-island-live
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| New Zealand volcano: five confirmed dead after eruption on White Island – live | New Zealand volcano: five confirmed dead after eruption on White Island – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| More than 20 Australians were on the island when it erupted, but it remains too dangerous for police and rescue to access. Follow the latest updates | More than 20 Australians were on the island when it erupted, but it remains too dangerous for police and rescue to access. Follow the latest updates |
| The New Zealand Herald reports that prime minister Jacinda Ardern has arrived in Whakatane, and that she is currently in a meeting with members of the district council: | |
| “The prime minister is currently in a meeting at the Whakatane District Council. The Crown car is waiting outside with a number of taxis. Waiariki MP Tamati Coffey’s car is also outside, as are police, regional council and St John vehicles.” | |
| A post by Twitter user @Maori1 appears to show Ardern arriving there: | |
| More information is emerging about the geology which underpins White Island and about the raising of the alert level in recent weeks. | |
| Professor Bill McGuire, emeritus professor of geophysical & climate hazards at University College London, said that “it is a sporadically active volcanic island very similar to Stromboli volcano in the Mediterranean. It does not have major eruptions, but small blasts of ash, blocks and lava are reasonably common. | |
| “Because the island is only a couple of kilometres across, however, visitors are close to the vent and under threat even if there is a small explosion. The volcano has been restless for a few weeks, resulting in the raising of the alert level, so that this eruption is not really a surprise.” | |
| Dr Jessica Johnson, lecturer in geophysics at the University of East Anglia, said that the eruption was “unfortunate but not completely unexpected”, pointing out that “levels of activity ... have been relatively high since September, and even more elevated over the last couple of weeks, with increased numbers of small earthquakes and more volcanic gas detected than usual. As a consequence, the volcanic alert level was raised. Similar eruptions have happened over the last 100 years or so. | |
| “Even though the alert level was raised, it is still very difficult to forecast exactly what will happen at volcanoes. White Island/Whakaari is an andesitic stratovolcano, which means that it can have lots of different types of eruptions. It also has a water-filled crater lake. When water reacts with hot rock or magma, it can create explosions, and therefore, can make eruptions even more difficult to forecast.” | |
| She said that it was very difficult to say whether there will be more eruptions like this one. | |
| “White Island/Whakaari is a very beautiful and interesting destination that naturally attracts tourism,” Dr Johnson added. “It is very difficult to say whether tourism should be allowed there. The volcano has displayed similar unrest in the past with no major eruptions. The most that the scientists can do is continue to monitor the volcano and issue information when it is available.” | |
| This is the full statement released by New Zealand police after the earlier news briefing. It provides details for the Family Links website which allows family members and friends concerned about loved ones to register an inquiry: | This is the full statement released by New Zealand police after the earlier news briefing. It provides details for the Family Links website which allows family members and friends concerned about loved ones to register an inquiry: |
| Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington has written an account of the deadly events on White Island: | Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington has written an account of the deadly events on White Island: |
| Passengers on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship have been told they are not allowed to leave the vessel, and it will remain in dock in Tauranga until further notice. Sylvain Plasse, a Canadian tourist on board the vessel, said he had seen the volcano erupt from land and thought he had been lucky to glimpse such a rare sight. But when he returned to the ship and heard that passengers and crew members were missing, “joy and excitement turned into horror,” he said. “The mood became sombre on the ship,” said Plasse. “Everyone’s trying to carry on and have a great time but it’s in the back of your mind, it hits your stomach.” | Passengers on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship have been told they are not allowed to leave the vessel, and it will remain in dock in Tauranga until further notice. Sylvain Plasse, a Canadian tourist on board the vessel, said he had seen the volcano erupt from land and thought he had been lucky to glimpse such a rare sight. But when he returned to the ship and heard that passengers and crew members were missing, “joy and excitement turned into horror,” he said. “The mood became sombre on the ship,” said Plasse. “Everyone’s trying to carry on and have a great time but it’s in the back of your mind, it hits your stomach.” |
| Five people have been confirmed killed, a figure that is expected to rise, after a volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s Whakaari / White Island. | Five people have been confirmed killed, a figure that is expected to rise, after a volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s Whakaari / White Island. |
| A double-digit number of people remain on the island, according to deputy commissioner John Timms of New Zealand police, although the exact number remains unknown. | A double-digit number of people remain on the island, according to deputy commissioner John Timms of New Zealand police, although the exact number remains unknown. |
| Tims told a briefing that police and rescue crews have still not been able to access to island, after advice from volcano experts. “The physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island”. | Tims told a briefing that police and rescue crews have still not been able to access to island, after advice from volcano experts. “The physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island”. |
| A number of people have been taken to hospital, some with burns as a result of the eruption. | A number of people have been taken to hospital, some with burns as a result of the eruption. |
| Photographs in the aftermath of the eruption appear to show a wrecked helicopter on the island. | Photographs in the aftermath of the eruption appear to show a wrecked helicopter on the island. |
| Fewer than 50 people were on the island at the time of the eruption, and 23 have been taken off. | Fewer than 50 people were on the island at the time of the eruption, and 23 have been taken off. |
| 30 to 38 of those people were passengers on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, as confirmed by the CEO of the New Zealand Cruise Association. | 30 to 38 of those people were passengers on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, as confirmed by the CEO of the New Zealand Cruise Association. |
| The eruption occurred about 2:11pm local time, 48km off the coast of the Bay of Plenty, on the north island. | The eruption occurred about 2:11pm local time, 48km off the coast of the Bay of Plenty, on the north island. |
| Whakaari / White Island is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, and is a popular tourist destination and scientific research site. It last experienced a short-lived eruption in 2016. | Whakaari / White Island is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, and is a popular tourist destination and scientific research site. It last experienced a short-lived eruption in 2016. |
| Tims also confirms that “a number” of those on the island were from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, but would not confirm their nationalities. | Tims also confirms that “a number” of those on the island were from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, but would not confirm their nationalities. |
| Earlier, Guardian Australia confirmed there were 30-38 people from Ovation of the Seas on the island. | Earlier, Guardian Australia confirmed there were 30-38 people from Ovation of the Seas on the island. |
| Guardian Australia also confirmed there were more than 20 Australians. But it is unknown how many were also cruise ship patrons. | Guardian Australia also confirmed there were more than 20 Australians. But it is unknown how many were also cruise ship patrons. |
| Now to questions. Deputy commissioner Tims is asked if “at least a double digit number of people remain on the island.” | Now to questions. Deputy commissioner Tims is asked if “at least a double digit number of people remain on the island.” |
| He confirms this but cannot be more specific on numbers. | He confirms this but cannot be more specific on numbers. |
| When asked how far police are from the island, Tims says “we are on the shore”. | When asked how far police are from the island, Tims says “we are on the shore”. |
| New Zealand police have just confirmed there are five people who have died. | New Zealand police have just confirmed there are five people who have died. |
| Deputy commissioner John Tims says that police and rescue have still not been able to access to island, after advice from volcano experts. | Deputy commissioner John Tims says that police and rescue have still not been able to access to island, after advice from volcano experts. |
| This means police are still unsure how many people remain on the island. | This means police are still unsure how many people remain on the island. |
| “The physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island,” he says | “The physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island,” he says |
| “A number of other people have been taken to hospital. A number of people have burns as a result of the eruption. It is still too early for police to confirm how many people are involved...including how many are still on the island.” | “A number of other people have been taken to hospital. A number of people have burns as a result of the eruption. It is still too early for police to confirm how many people are involved...including how many are still on the island.” |
| There will be another briefing from NZ authorities in 15 minutes. | There will be another briefing from NZ authorities in 15 minutes. |
| More than 20 Australians were on Whakaari/White Island, as part of a tour group, when it erupted, Guardian Australia can confirm. | More than 20 Australians were on Whakaari/White Island, as part of a tour group, when it erupted, Guardian Australia can confirm. |
| Their condition is unknown, and it is unclear how many were rescued, and how many remain on the island currently. | Their condition is unknown, and it is unclear how many were rescued, and how many remain on the island currently. |
| New Zealand Police said fewer than 50 people, in total, were on the island when it erupted. 23 have since been taken to shore. But it is currently too dangerous for police and rescue to visit the island, and up to 27 people remain. | New Zealand Police said fewer than 50 people, in total, were on the island when it erupted. 23 have since been taken to shore. But it is currently too dangerous for police and rescue to visit the island, and up to 27 people remain. |
| Prime minister Scott Morrison also earlier confirmed that “Australians have been caught up in this terrible event”. | Prime minister Scott Morrison also earlier confirmed that “Australians have been caught up in this terrible event”. |
| Our updated news story is here: | Our updated news story is here: |