Several people feared missing following volcanic eruption
WHAKATANE, New Zealand - More than two dozen people were feared missing on Tuesday, a day after a volcano that is a tourist attraction suddenly erupted off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island, killing at least five people and injuring up to 20.
Police said early on Tuesday they did not expect to find any more survivors from the volcanic eruption, which occurred on White Island on Monday afternoon, spewing a plume of ash thousands of feet into the air.
About 50 people, New Zealanders as well as foreign tourists, are believed to have been nearby at the time and several were seen near the rim of the crater minutes before the eruption.
Rescue services have been unable to reach White Island as it remains too dangerous.
“No signs of life have been seen at any point,” the police said in their statement early on Tuesday after rescue helicopters and other aircraft had carried out a number of aerial reconnaissance flights over the island.
“Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation.”
Tour operators took some people off the island before it was declared unsafe. Twentythree people were rescued, police said on Monday, adding that others were still on the island.
“Police (are) working urgently to confirm the exact number of those who have died...” their statement said, adding that a ship would approach the island at first light on Tuesday to further “assess the environment”.
Many day tours visit the island regularly. One from a 16deck cruise liner, Ovation of the Seas, was there at the time.
“Both New Zealanders and overseas tourists are believed to (have been) involved, and a number were from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship,” the police statement said.
St. John Ambulance said up to 20 people were believed to have been injured in the eruption, adding that a mobile triage unit was on its way.