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| New Zealand volcano: one dead and 'likely to be more' after eruption on White Island – live | New Zealand volcano: one dead and 'likely to be more' after eruption on White Island – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| At least one person has died after volcano erupted suddenly while dozens of tourists were on the island. Follow the latest updates | At least one person has died after volcano erupted suddenly while dozens of tourists were on the island. Follow the latest updates |
| Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, has offered emergency support to New Zealand and Jacinda Ardern. | |
| He also confirms Australians have been “caught up in” the eruption. | |
| “A terrible tragedy is unfolding in NZ after the volcano eruption on Whakaari/White Island,” he says. “Australians have been caught up in this terrible event and we are working to determine their wellbeing. | |
| “I have been in touch with Jacinda Ardern to offer our full support with whatever they need and our authorities are working closely together. I will be staying in direct contact as events continue to unfold.” | |
| The damaged helicopter shown in footage of White Island belongs to Volcanic Air, a tour company based in Rotorua. | |
| The pilot and four passengers were unharmed and returned to the mainland via boat on Monday afternoon, a company spokesman said. | |
| “Volcanic Air has confirmed it had a helicopter on Whakaari/White Island at the time it erupted this afternoon,” a spokesman said. “Five people had flown to the island in the helicopter, but all are accounted for and have arrived back in Whakatane by boat. The company has enacted its emergency response plan and says its priority was looking after the pilot and passengers.” | |
| Volcanic Air has been running charter tours to White Island since 1992. | |
| Ross Dawson is a director of Adventure Helicopters in Tauranga. One of his pilots flew over the western end of the island with a convoy of media on board soon after the eruption. | |
| “They couldn’t see much from the air apart from a lot of steam and volcanic ash,” Dawson told The Guardian. The pilot’s summary was that it was “not good.” | |
| Aviation authorities have since implemented a 26 nautical mile no fly zone around the island to help rescue crews. White Island is 22 nautical miles offshore. | |
| The island last erupted in 2016, according to the New Zealand science agency GeoNet, in a “short-lived” burst that happened in the evening and did not injure anyone. | |
| Explosive eruptions, followed by bursts of ash, happened in 2012 and 2013. | |
| In its longest episode, White Island erupted from December 1975 to September 2000. | |
| A sulphur mining venture began on the island in 1885, according to GeoNet, but this was stopped abruptly in 1914 when a landslide destroyed the sulphur mine and miners’ village. 12 people died. | |
| Now, a visit to the miners’ buildings are part of a daily tour on the island, to the island, which is a popular attraction in a sunny, beachfront region attracts tourists, especially in the summer. | |
| 10,000 tourists a year visit the island, which is a popular tourist attraction in a region famed for its beaches and sunlight hours. | |
| Professor Richard Arculus, a volcanologist from the Australian National University, says White Island had been “showing signs of unrest for the past few weeks”. | |
| “The eruption this afternoon was a short-lived explosive event. In addition to gases, fragmented rock particles (ash) rose ~4000m above the vent”. | |
| Some more photos from the scene – showing tour operators rescuing people roughly 15 minutes after the eruption. | Some more photos from the scene – showing tour operators rescuing people roughly 15 minutes after the eruption. |
| One person has been killed, and that figure is expected to rise, after a volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s Whakaari / White Island. | One person has been killed, and that figure is expected to rise, after a volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s Whakaari / White Island. |
| Up to 27 people are still unaccounted for and the island is too dangerous for police and rescue to access. Police deputy commissioner John Tims said there “are likely to be more” casualties. | Up to 27 people are still unaccounted for and the island is too dangerous for police and rescue to access. Police deputy commissioner John Tims said there “are likely to be more” casualties. |
| 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. |
| Seven people, of the 23 taken off the island, are critically injured. | Seven people, of the 23 taken off the island, are critically injured. |
| 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. |
| Owner of Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean, has said the ship will stay in port overnight. | Owner of Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean, has said the ship will stay in port overnight. |
| “We can confirm that a number of our guests were touring the island today,” it said in a statement. “We do not have any additional details to share at this time. | “We can confirm that a number of our guests were touring the island today,” it said in a statement. “We do not have any additional details to share at this time. |
| “Ovation of the Seas will remain overnight until we learn more about the situation. We will offer all possible assistance to our guests and local authorities. Please keep all those affected in your prayers.” | “Ovation of the Seas will remain overnight until we learn more about the situation. We will offer all possible assistance to our guests and local authorities. Please keep all those affected in your prayers.” |
| A still from one of the videos of the island shows a helicopter on its side. | A still from one of the videos of the island shows a helicopter on its side. |
| Former prime minister Helen Clark has shared her condolences. | Former prime minister Helen Clark has shared her condolences. |
| Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs says it is making “urgent enquiries” to find out if any Australians were affected by the eruption. However, it does not have any information to share at present. | Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs says it is making “urgent enquiries” to find out if any Australians were affected by the eruption. However, it does not have any information to share at present. |
| Breaking from Eleanor Ainge Roy: | Breaking from Eleanor Ainge Roy: |
| Kevin O’Sullivan, the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Cruise Association confirmed that a tour party of 30 to 38 people from cruise ship Ovation of the Seas were on a tour of White Island today, and had not returned. | Kevin O’Sullivan, the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Cruise Association confirmed that a tour party of 30 to 38 people from cruise ship Ovation of the Seas were on a tour of White Island today, and had not returned. |
| He said the passengers names and nationalities were now being handed to police, and the Ovation of the Seas would stay docked in Tauranga at least overnight. | He said the passengers names and nationalities were now being handed to police, and the Ovation of the Seas would stay docked in Tauranga at least overnight. |
| “I know the cruise ship will be able to compile a list of the tour party and they will be handing that to New Zealand police, and the police will then make a statement on the nationalities,” he said. | “I know the cruise ship will be able to compile a list of the tour party and they will be handing that to New Zealand police, and the police will then make a statement on the nationalities,” he said. |
| “Our hope of course is they will be recovered unharmed and returned back to the ship.” | “Our hope of course is they will be recovered unharmed and returned back to the ship.” |
| Earlier, the operations director for St John Ambulance told Radio NZ that seven people – out of those taken off the island – were critically injured. | Earlier, the operations director for St John Ambulance told Radio NZ that seven people – out of those taken off the island – were critically injured. |
| Norma Lane confirmed the figures to the Checkpoint program. | Norma Lane confirmed the figures to the Checkpoint program. |
| In that press conference, deputy commissioner Tims said that some of the tourists on the island were from cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. | In that press conference, deputy commissioner Tims said that some of the tourists on the island were from cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. |
| “From my understanding, some of the tourists are from a cruise ship so we should have a list of people that left the cruise ship and potentially are on the island. There are ways for us to have that list confirmed.” | “From my understanding, some of the tourists are from a cruise ship so we should have a list of people that left the cruise ship and potentially are on the island. There are ways for us to have that list confirmed.” |
| He was then asked if all the people on the island were from the cruise ship. He says: “We don’t believe so”. | He was then asked if all the people on the island were from the cruise ship. He says: “We don’t believe so”. |
| Last question to Ardern and the police. A reporter asks if “27 people could be dead”. | Last question to Ardern and the police. A reporter asks if “27 people could be dead”. |
| “We don’t have a full clarity at this point,” Ardern says. “You understand why we are loath to get into speculation”. | “We don’t have a full clarity at this point,” Ardern says. “You understand why we are loath to get into speculation”. |
| Dr Ken Glairdhill from GNS Science is now speaking about the eruption. | Dr Ken Glairdhill from GNS Science is now speaking about the eruption. |
| “It was not a particularly big eruption,” he says. “It was almost like a throat-clearing eruption.” | “It was not a particularly big eruption,” he says. “It was almost like a throat-clearing eruption.” |
| He says it is unlikely, but possible, there could be secondary eruptions. | He says it is unlikely, but possible, there could be secondary eruptions. |
| “It showed increased activity for the lsat few weeks, so we raised the alert level. But it looks like mostly, there will be an eruption like this, then a moment of quiescence. | “It showed increased activity for the lsat few weeks, so we raised the alert level. But it looks like mostly, there will be an eruption like this, then a moment of quiescence. |
| “But we can’t be certain there wont be another eruption in the next 24 hours.” | “But we can’t be certain there wont be another eruption in the next 24 hours.” |
| Tims says it is still too dangerous for police and rescue services to go onto the island – so they are still unclear how many people remain on the island. | Tims says it is still too dangerous for police and rescue services to go onto the island – so they are still unclear how many people remain on the island. |
| 23 people have been taken from the island. There were fewer than 50 people on the island at the time of the eruption. | 23 people have been taken from the island. There were fewer than 50 people on the island at the time of the eruption. |
| “Some of these people have been transported to shore, however there is a number still remaining on the island who are currently unaccounted for,” Tims said. | “Some of these people have been transported to shore, however there is a number still remaining on the island who are currently unaccounted for,” Tims said. |
| “We are working to confirm the numbers involved. At this stage, it is too dangerous for police and rescue services to go to the island. However, we continue to assess the conditions which would allow us togo onto the island. | “We are working to confirm the numbers involved. At this stage, it is too dangerous for police and rescue services to go to the island. However, we continue to assess the conditions which would allow us togo onto the island. |
| “The island is currently covered in ash and volcanic material. We are taking expert advice with regards to the safety of any rescue attempt.” | “The island is currently covered in ash and volcanic material. We are taking expert advice with regards to the safety of any rescue attempt.” |
| Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims has confirmed that one person has died. | Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims has confirmed that one person has died. |
| “And based on information we have, there are likely to be more,” he adds. | “And based on information we have, there are likely to be more,” he adds. |
| Sarah Stewart-Black, the director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, is speaking now. | Sarah Stewart-Black, the director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, is speaking now. |
| “We do not expect this event you have any significant impact for the people on the north island at this time. If the situation changes we will communicate this. | “We do not expect this event you have any significant impact for the people on the north island at this time. If the situation changes we will communicate this. |
| “Ashfall appears to be confined to the island and they do not expect more than a minor amount of ash to reach East Cape in the coming hours.” | “Ashfall appears to be confined to the island and they do not expect more than a minor amount of ash to reach East Cape in the coming hours.” |