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| New Zealand volcano eruption: police to launch criminal investigation over White Island deaths – latest updates | New Zealand volcano eruption: police to launch criminal investigation over White Island deaths – latest updates |
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| PM confirms five dead after White Island eruption, as health authorities say some of the injured will not survive severe burns. Follow rolling updates | PM confirms five dead after White Island eruption, as health authorities say some of the injured will not survive severe burns. Follow rolling updates |
| New Zealand’s GeoNet has just launched another update on the volcano. It says seismic activity remained weak and there had been no further eruptive activity. | |
| However GeoNet said they weree continuing to see “gas-driven jetting from the active vent area”. It said its monitoring equipment continued to work well, despite some sites being covered in ash. | |
| If you are just joining us on our coverage of the volcanic eruption in New Zealand, you can get yourself up to date quickly with our guide to what we know so far. | If you are just joining us on our coverage of the volcanic eruption in New Zealand, you can get yourself up to date quickly with our guide to what we know so far. |
| The mayor of Whakatāne, Judy Turner, has held a press conference in the small coastal town this afternoon during which she said she “welcomed” the criminal investigation into the disaster and hoped no stone would be left unturned, as everyone wanted reassurance that nothing “untoward” had taken place | The mayor of Whakatāne, Judy Turner, has held a press conference in the small coastal town this afternoon during which she said she “welcomed” the criminal investigation into the disaster and hoped no stone would be left unturned, as everyone wanted reassurance that nothing “untoward” had taken place |
| “It’s a natural question that comes out of the event, I don’t think there’s anything particular that is of concern,” she said. | “It’s a natural question that comes out of the event, I don’t think there’s anything particular that is of concern,” she said. |
| “We do feel your pain, and we’re here to support you,” Turner added of the families gathering in town to mourn their loved ones, or wait for their bodies to be returned. The mayor said she continued to support tours of White Island in the future, but first questions needed to be answered as to who, if anyone, was responsible for the disaster, seh said, and if tourists should have been on the island when a level-2 threat was present. | “We do feel your pain, and we’re here to support you,” Turner added of the families gathering in town to mourn their loved ones, or wait for their bodies to be returned. The mayor said she continued to support tours of White Island in the future, but first questions needed to be answered as to who, if anyone, was responsible for the disaster, seh said, and if tourists should have been on the island when a level-2 threat was present. |
| “At the time they went out it was a level 2, and in the matrix of things that is not considered a high reading ... they have been out numerous times at that level.” | “At the time they went out it was a level 2, and in the matrix of things that is not considered a high reading ... they have been out numerous times at that level.” |
| Turner acknowledged that White Island tours had offered tourists “an amazing adventure tourism opportunity” and had been running for 30 years without any problems. | Turner acknowledged that White Island tours had offered tourists “an amazing adventure tourism opportunity” and had been running for 30 years without any problems. |
| “You’ll be aware that tourism is significant for our local area. We are aware there are questions and you can be assured ... that at the appropriate time we will answer the questions that need to be asked.” | “You’ll be aware that tourism is significant for our local area. We are aware there are questions and you can be assured ... that at the appropriate time we will answer the questions that need to be asked.” |
| Turner said police were working around the clock to get the remaining bodies off the Island, and boats had been stationed 1km off the coast of the island, from which drones had been launched on reconnaissance missions to monitor when it would be safe for police to land. | Turner said police were working around the clock to get the remaining bodies off the Island, and boats had been stationed 1km off the coast of the island, from which drones had been launched on reconnaissance missions to monitor when it would be safe for police to land. |
| When bodies were able to be retrieved, they would first be flown to Whakatane airport which was being prepared today, and then to the offices of the coroner in Auckland, she said. | When bodies were able to be retrieved, they would first be flown to Whakatane airport which was being prepared today, and then to the offices of the coroner in Auckland, she said. |
| Turner added that while the local Iwi, Ngati Awa, had been showing “aroha” to those affected, she had not yet spoken to the tribe’s elders. | Turner added that while the local Iwi, Ngati Awa, had been showing “aroha” to those affected, she had not yet spoken to the tribe’s elders. |
| I’m just catching up with a few other points from that news conference. John Tims from NZ police said that authorities had been working today to determine the conditions on the island. | I’m just catching up with a few other points from that news conference. John Tims from NZ police said that authorities had been working today to determine the conditions on the island. |
| “This will be done by a drone able to carry specialised measuring equipment. This requires a boat getting into, within 1km of the island, in order to launch the drones. We are hoping to do this today. Unfortunately, we have had one attempt, the conditions have been against us and it’s been too windy. We will continue to do so today if weather permits,” Tims said. | “This will be done by a drone able to carry specialised measuring equipment. This requires a boat getting into, within 1km of the island, in order to launch the drones. We are hoping to do this today. Unfortunately, we have had one attempt, the conditions have been against us and it’s been too windy. We will continue to do so today if weather permits,” Tims said. |
| With regards to the foreign nationals affected by the volcanic eruption in New Zealand, a team of three officials from the NZ department of foreign affairs and trade has been deployed to Whakatane to support diplomatic missions of affected foreign nationals. | With regards to the foreign nationals affected by the volcanic eruption in New Zealand, a team of three officials from the NZ department of foreign affairs and trade has been deployed to Whakatane to support diplomatic missions of affected foreign nationals. |
| In terms of the condition on the island currently, civil defence spokesperson, Sarah Stuart-Black, said: “Monitoring equipment on the island is still functional and providing near real-time data. GNS science will continue to closely monitor the situation on White Island. The web cameras indicate gas and steam jetting from the active vent area.” | |
| Health authorities in New Zealand have contacted burns units in Australia to ask what capacity they have to take on patients, Guardian Australia understands. Protocol for treating disaster victims is for them to be treated at the hospital closest to their home, in anticipation of a long recovery period. | Health authorities in New Zealand have contacted burns units in Australia to ask what capacity they have to take on patients, Guardian Australia understands. Protocol for treating disaster victims is for them to be treated at the hospital closest to their home, in anticipation of a long recovery period. |
| That press conference has just wrapped up. Here’s a summary of the most important points: | That press conference has just wrapped up. Here’s a summary of the most important points: |
| New Zealand police have launched a criminal investigation into the disaster on White Island. | New Zealand police have launched a criminal investigation into the disaster on White Island. |
| Five people are confirmed dead and their bodies have been transferred to Auckland for a post mortem to be carried out. | Five people are confirmed dead and their bodies have been transferred to Auckland for a post mortem to be carried out. |
| 31 patients are being treated for burns, including 27 who have burns to at least 30% of their bodies. | 31 patients are being treated for burns, including 27 who have burns to at least 30% of their bodies. |
| Patients have been transferred to burns units across New Zealand and some may be transferred to Australia. | Patients have been transferred to burns units across New Zealand and some may be transferred to Australia. |
| There has been a decline in seismic activity on the island but scientists estimate there’s a 50% chance of a smaller or similar sized eruption over the next 24hours, which means a 50% chance of no eruption. It’s estimated that a large eruption is unlikely at this time. | There has been a decline in seismic activity on the island but scientists estimate there’s a 50% chance of a smaller or similar sized eruption over the next 24hours, which means a 50% chance of no eruption. It’s estimated that a large eruption is unlikely at this time. |
| John Tims of NZ police was asked about whether the investigation would focus on the tour operators to the island: | John Tims of NZ police was asked about whether the investigation would focus on the tour operators to the island: |
| “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,” 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,” Tims said. |
| “Not all of the (burns) patients will survive,” Watson said. | “Not all of the (burns) patients will survive,” Watson 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. | “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. |
| Of the 31 people injured, 25 are now in our four regional burns units located in Christchurch, Hutt valley, Waikato and Middlemore hospital, Watson said. | Of the 31 people injured, 25 are now in our four regional burns units located in Christchurch, Hutt valley, Waikato and Middlemore hospital, Watson said. |
| “They will be transferred to one of our regional burns units as soon as there’s capacity. All our burns units are full to capacity. Our plastic surgeons, hospitals, anaesthetists are doing their best to treat the many who have sustained injuries.” | “They will be transferred to one of our regional burns units as soon as there’s capacity. All our burns units are full to capacity. Our plastic surgeons, hospitals, anaesthetists are doing their best to treat the many who have sustained injuries.” |