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Five people dead and eight missing after New Zealand volcanic eruption Five dead and eight missing after New Zealand volcano erupts
(32 minutes later)
Questions arise as to why tourists were on White Island after scientists noted volcanic activity Questions over why tourists were on White Island after experts noted volcanic activity
Five people have died and eight are still missing following an eruption on a volcanic island in New Zealand, the country’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has said. Five people have died and eight are still missing after an eruption on a volcanic island in New Zealand, the country’s prime minister has said.
She said that New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the US, Britain, China and Malaysia were among the missing and injured. New Zealand police do not expect to find any more survivors on White Island, where two explosions in quick succession sent up a huge plume of ash that could be seen from the North Island. Jacinda Ardern confirmed that New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the US, Britain, China and Malaysia were among the missing and injured. The police do not expect to find more survivors on White Island, where two explosions in quick succession sent up a huge plume of ash that could be seen from the North Island.
Some 31 people remain in hospital after three people were discharged overnight. In total, 47 people visited the island on Monday. About 31 people remain in hospital after three people were discharged overnight. In total, 47 people visited the island on Monday.
Ardern praised the efforts of first responders, including a number of helicopters that rescued people from the island. “All of us would want to acknowledge the efforts they went to to ensure that everyone who could be evacuated was,” said Ardern. Laura Clarke, the UK’s high commissioner to New Zealand, said two British women had been taken to hospital and that her team were providing assistance.
Every year thousands of tourists take boat trips and helicopter tours to view the White Island’s dramatic landscape. Some have questioned whether the privately owned island, which is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, should have been operating as a tourist destination. The Māori name of the island is Whakaari. Ardern praised the efforts of helicopter pilots who flew to the island shortly after the eruption to rescue stranded people. She said they had made “an incredibly brave decision under extraordinary dangerous circumstances in an attempt to get people out”.
Every year thousands of tourists take boat trips and helicopter tours to view White Island’s dramatic landscape. Some have questioned whether the privately owned island, which is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, should have been operating as a tourist destination. The Māori name of the island is Whakaari.
Raymond Cas, emeritus professor at Melbourne’s Monash University’s school of earth, atmosphere and environment, said it was “a disaster waiting to happen”.Raymond Cas, emeritus professor at Melbourne’s Monash University’s school of earth, atmosphere and environment, said it was “a disaster waiting to happen”.
“Having visited it twice, I have always felt that it was too dangerous to allow the daily tour groups that visit the uninhabited island volcano by boat and helicopter,” Cas told the Australian Science Media Centre.“Having visited it twice, I have always felt that it was too dangerous to allow the daily tour groups that visit the uninhabited island volcano by boat and helicopter,” Cas told the Australian Science Media Centre.
Ardern said that the island had operated as a tourist site for decades, but added: “It is a very unpredictable volcano there will be questions that will be asked and do need to be answered by the appropriate authorities.” Ardern said the island had operated as a tourist site for decades, but added: “It is a very unpredictable volcano there will be questions that will be asked and do need to be answered by the appropriate authorities.”
A camera run by Geological hazard trackers GeoNet, which takes pictures of the site every 10 minutes, showed a group of people visiting the crater at 2.10pm. The next shot, taken at 2.20pm, was completely distorted by the blast. She said that, for now, authorities were focused on “those who are caught up in this horrific event”.
Up to 50 people, including more than 20 Australian tourists, were on or near the island at the time of the eruption, which happened at 2.11pm on Monday, during busy tourist season. Some 23 people managed to escape. A camera run by the geological hazard trackers GeoNet, which takes pictures of the site every 10 minutes, showed a group of people visiting the crater at 2.10pm. The next shot, taken at 2.20pm, was distorted by the blast.The eruption happened at 2.11pm on Monday, during the busy tourist season.
Rescue helicopters carried out a number of reconnaissance flights over the island on Monday but reported “no signs of life have been seen at any point”, a police statement said. A pilot carrying out a reconnaissance flight on Monday physically moved around the island, rather than just carrying out an aerial survey, Ardern said. No signs of life had been seen, she added. She told families whose relatives were missing or killed: “We share in your unfathomable grief at this moment in time and in your sorrow. Your loved ones stood alongside Kiwis who were hosting you here and we grieve with you and we grieve with them.”
“Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation,” the statement added. The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, confirmed on Monday that Australians were among those visiting the island, adding: “We are working to determine their wellbeing.”
The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, confirmed that Australians were among those visiting the island, adding: “We are working to determine their wellbeing.” Michael Schade, who was visiting the island with his parents, had stood at the crater 20 minutes before the eruption. He was among a boatload of tourists just off the White Island who witnessed the disaster. The vessel returned to rescue a crowd of people on the jetty.
All of the 23 people rescued had sustained injuries, mostly burns, police said, and seven people who were in a critical condition had been flown to hospitals in Tauranga and Auckland. “Some people had pockets of burns, other people were fine, and others were really rough,” Schade told the Guardian on Monday. “Some were screaming, while others were in silent shock.”
Michael Schade, who was visiting the island with his parents, had stood at the crater just 20 minutes before the eruption. He was among a boatload of tourists just off the White Island that witnessed the disaster, and which returned to rescue a crowd of people on the jetty.
“Some people had pockets of burns, other people were fine, and others were really rough,” Schade told the Guardian on Monday. Some were screaming, while others were in silent shock.
Passengers set up an assembly line to pass water bottles to people with burns, as well as jackets, inhalers and eye drops.Passengers set up an assembly line to pass water bottles to people with burns, as well as jackets, inhalers and eye drops.
Unstable conditions, toxic gases and ash fall prevented rescue teams from searching the island – which lies 30 miles (48km) from the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, in the Bay of Plenty – on foot. Supt Bruce Bird said a scientific and technical committee was meeting in Wellington to determine whether it was safe for emergency services to go to the island. “I will reiterate we will only to the island when it is safe to do so for our people,” he added.
Kevin O’Sullivan, the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Cruise Association, said a tour party of 30 to 38 people from the Ovation of the Seas had been touring White Island when the eruption took place, and the party had not returned. Their names and nationalities were being given to the police, he said. The ship would remain in Tauranga port at least overnight. Unstable conditions, toxic gases and ash fall have prevented rescue teams from searching the island – which lies 30 miles (48km) from the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, in the Bay of Plenty – on foot.
Kevin O’Sullivan, the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Cruise Association, said a tour party of 30-38 people from the Ovation of the Seas had been touring White Island when the eruption took place, and the party had not returned. Their names and nationalities would be given to the police, he said. The ship would remain in Tauranga port at least overnight.
Royal Caribbean, which owns the Ovation of the Seas, asked for prayers to be said for all involved.Royal Caribbean, which owns the Ovation of the Seas, asked for prayers to be said for all involved.
New Zealand Red Cross has created a Family Links webpage, where families can register the names of missing relatives, and where individuals can list that they are safe. New Zealand Red Cross has created a family links webpage, where people can register the names of missing relatives, and where individuals can list that they are safe.
A pilot and four passengers whose damaged helicopter was shown in footage taken after the eruption, were unharmed, it was confirmed on Monday. The helicopter belonged to Volcanic Air, a tour company based in Rotorua, which said the crew had been returned to the mainland via boat on Monday afternoon. A pilot and four passengers whose damaged helicopter was shown in footage taken after the eruption were unharmed, it was confirmed on Monday. The aircraft belonged to Volcanic Air, a tour company based in Rotorua. It said the crew had been returned to the mainland by boat on Monday afternoon.
About 10,000 tourists a year visit the island, which was bought by George Raymond Buttle, an Auckland stockbroker, in 1936. It is now owned by the Buttle Family Trust. About 10,000 tourists a year visit the island, which was bought in 1936 by George Raymond Buttle, an Auckland stockbroker. It is now owned by the Buttle Family Trust.
The island last experienced a short-lived eruption in 2016, in which no one was hurt. GeoNet raised the alert level for the White Island in November after noting an increase in volcanic activity, from one to two on a scale where five represents a major eruption. The island previously experienced a short eruption in 2016, in which no one was hurt.
GeoNet raised the alert level for White Island in November after noting an increase in volcanic activity, from one to two on a scale where five represents a big eruption.