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Five dead and eight missing after New Zealand volcano erupts White Island volcano: death toll to rise as police open criminal inquiry
(about 3 hours later)
Questions over why tourists were on White Island after experts noted volcanic activity New Zealand police to explore any criminal responsibility as health officials say some of 31 burns victims not expected to survive
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. New Zealand police have launched a criminal investigation into the White Island volcano as further details emerged of the scale of the disaster, in which at least five people died and a further eight are feared to have perished.
Jacinda Ardern confirmed that New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the US, Britain, China, Germany 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. “I would strongly suggest that there is no one that has survived on the island,” New Zealand police deputy commissioner John Tims said in Wellington on Tuesday of those still unaccounted for.
About 31 people remain in hospital after three people were discharged overnight. In total, 47 people visited the island on Monday. When asked about whether the investigation would focus on tour operators, Tims said: “So we’ll look into if there was anyone criminally responsible for the deaths and injuries. It’s early days yet. So we’re just going to have to work through the evidence, talk to people, and conduct the investigation.”
On Tuesday morning Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, said three Australians were believed to be among the dead and eight were missing. He said 24 Australians were among those on White Island – 13 of whom were in hospital and 11 unaccounted for. Thirty-one patients were being treated for burns and not all were expected to survive, said Dr Pete Watson from the ministry of health. Twenty-seven have burns to at least 30% of their bodies, he said. “There’s many who have suffered inhalation injuries, damage to lungs, so they’re requiring airway support. At this stage, that’s the majority of the people who are in the hospitals,” Watson said. Patients have been sent to burns units across the country, which were at capacity, and some may be sent to Australia, he said.
“This is a very, very hard day for a lot of Australian families whose loved ones have been caught up in this terrible, terrible tragedy,” he told reporters in Sydney. The nationalities of those on the island at the time of the explosion were confirmed on Tuesday. Twenty-four were from Australia, nine from the US, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two from the UK, two from China and one from Malaysia.
“I fear there is worse news to come over the course of perhaps today or over the next few days.” On Tuesday authorities were still unable to reach the island. Seismic activity had reduced but scientists estimated there was a 50% chance of a smaller or similar sized eruption in the next 24 hours. Web cameras on the island indicated jets of gas and steam were still being released from the area, said GNS science, the government’s research organisation.
A forensics team from the Australian Federal Police is on its way to New Zealand to help identify victims. New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, returning from the nearby town of Whakatane, told parliament on Tuesday afternoon: “The scale of this tragedy is devastating. Our hearts go out to the families of those who are injured, missing or deceased.
“To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your grief and sorrow and we are devastated. To our international partners and friends, we will do everything we can to support you as you have supported us in times past.
“In particular our family in Australia has been heavily impacted ... we feel the pull of our bond acutely at this time.”
Ardern also praised the efforts of helicopter pilots who flew to the island shortly after the eruption to rescue people who were stranded. She said they had made “an incredibly brave decision under extraordinary dangerous circumstances in an attempt to get people out.”.
On Tuesday morning Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, said: “This is a very, very hard day for a lot of Australian families whose loved ones have been caught up in this terrible, terrible tragedy.” He said three Australians were believed to be among the dead and eight were missing. He said 13 more were in hospital and 11 unaccounted for.
“I fear there is worse news to come,” he said.
A forensics team from the Australian federal police was on its way to New Zealand to help identify victims.
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.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.
In parliament Ardern praised the efforts of helicopter pilots who flew to the island shortly after the eruption to rescue stranded people.
“The scale of this tragedy is devastating”, she told parliament. “Our hearts go out to the families of those who are injured, missing or deceased.”
“To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your grief and sorrow and we are devastated,” Ardern said.
“To our international partners and friends, we will do everything we can to support you as you have supported us in times past.
“In particular, our family in Australia has been heavily impacted... We feel the pull of our bond acutely at this time.”
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.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.
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. 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. “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.”
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.
Morrison said he had been advised by Ardern that the “operation has moved into the recovery phase”, noting that “there is not considered to be anyone on that island that remains alive”.
“This is a terrible tragedy, a time of great innocence and joy interrupted by the horror of that eruption.”
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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 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 in 1936 by George Raymond Buttle, an Auckland stockbroker. 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 previously experienced a short eruption in 2016, in which no one was hurt.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.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.