Volcano hinders recovery of bodies
WHAKATANE, New Zealand — A New Zealand island volcano vented more steam and mud Wednesday in an increase of geothermal activity that again delayed the recovery of victims’ bodies from a deadly eruption two days ago.
Volcanic tremors on White Island rose in the morning, accompanied by releases of more steam and mud, the GeoNet seismic monitoring agency said.
“We interpret these signals as evidence of continued high gas pressures within the volcano,” the agency said. “The situation remains highly uncertain as to future activity. Eruptions in the next 24 hours are still likely to occur.”
Six deaths have been confirmed in Monday’s eruption, which sent a tower of steam and ash an estimated 12,000 feet into the air. The bodies of eight other people are believed to remain on the ash-covered island. And 30 people remain hospitalized, including 25 in critical condition. Many of the injured suffered severe burns.
Bruce Bird, an acting assistant police commissioner, said they were monitoring the situation hour by hour.
“Safety for our staff is a huge priority for us,” Bird said. “And we’ve got to get this right.”
Bird said a drone was deployed over the island to measure gas levels after strong winds had thwarted those attempts on Tuesday.
Police believe 47 visitors were on the island at the time, 24 of them Australian, nine Americans, five New Zealanders and others from Germany, Britain, China and Malaysia. Many were passengers aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas.
White Island, also known by the indigenous Maori name Whakaari, is the tip of an undersea volcano about 30 kilometers off New Zealand’s main North Island. Whether it will ever host tourists again remains uncertain.
Many people were questioning why tourists were allowed to visit the island after seismic monitoring experts raised the volcano’s alert level last month.
“These questions must be asked, and they must be answered,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in Parliament.
Police said in a statement they would investigate the deaths on behalf of the coroner, accompanying an investigation by health and safety regulators, but they said it was too early confirm whether there will also be a criminal investigation.