‘NO SIGNS OF LIFE’
N.Z. volcano island was disaster ‘waiting to happen’
WHAKATANE — New Zealand said on Tuesday that eight people were missing, presumed dead, a day after a volcano unexpectedly erupted off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island, killing at least five people and injuring more than 30.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters in Whakatane, a town near the volcanic White Island tourist attraction, that aerial reconnaissance flights had shown no signs of life.
“It’s now clear that there were two groups on the island — those who were able to be evacuated and those who were close to the eruption,” Ardern told reporters.
New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China and Malaysia were among the missing and injured, she said, adding there were two explosions in quick succession. No further details were given.
“To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief in this moment at time and in your sorrow,” Ardern said.
Waikato Police Superintendent Bruce Bird said 47 people visited the island on Monday — five were confirmed to have been killed and eight were missing. Some 31 were in hospital and three had been discharged.
Police said they did not expect to find any more survivors from the eruption, which spewed a plume of ash thousands of feet into the air. Many of the injured were in critical condition, most from burns, Ardern said. White Island is about 50 km from the east coast of North Island and huge plumes were visible from the mainland. Volcanologists said the ash plume shot 3,658 metres into the air.
“White Island has been a disaster waiting to happen for many years,” said Ray Cas, a professor emeritus at Monash University, in comments published by 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.”
Bird said rescue services were working to return to the island and were relying on advice from scientific and technical experts meeting in Wellington on Monday.
“We will only go to the island if it is safe for our people,” said Bird.
Ardern said helicopters made a deliberate decision to fly to the island to rescue survivors immediately after the eruption.