White Island in New Zealand erupted on Monday 9 December, with around 47 people on the island at the time. At lease five people have died. A total of 34 people, made up of locals and tourists, were rescued from the island.
According to CNN International, New Zealand police have confirmed that there were 24 people from Australia, 9 people from USA, 5 from New Zealand, 4 from Germany, 2 from China, 2 from the UK and 1 person from Malaysia at the time of the eruption.
Emergency services have carried out numerous aerial reconnaissance flights over the island since the eruption but police officials have stated that they do not believe they will find any more survivors.
According to The Guardian, officials have said: ‘No signs of life have been seen at any point. Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation.’
White Island, also known as Whakaari, is a popular adventure tourist destination in New Zealand. Located 50km offshore of North Island in the Bay of Plenty. White Island is New Zealand’s most active volcano, with the last eruption occurring in 2001.
According to a police statement, around 24 people are still missing. The island is currently too dangerous for rescue services, due to unstable conditions, toxic gasses and ash fall.
John Tims, the deputy police commissioner of district operations, said: ‘The physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island.’
According to BBC News, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: ‘We know there will be bigger questions in relation to this event. These questions must be asked and they must be answered.’
Aerial vision of #WhiteIsland – Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust deployed three helicopters to White Island and Whakatane yesterday (Monday.) #whiteislanderuption #volcaniceruption pic.twitter.com/8rvrw5H31h
— I Sea (@RiffRaffBriz) December 10, 2019
My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001. My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable. #whiteisland pic.twitter.com/QJwWi12Tvt
— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019
Last photos: here are the White Island Tour operators rescuing people, timestamp 14:24 (~12-14 minutes after eruption). Endless gratitude to that crew for stepping up as first responders.
I took these and reporters welcome to use with attribution. pic.twitter.com/ITmY1jCezr
— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019
First post-event radar image of #Whakaari / #WhiteIsland volcano, New Zealand from #Sentinel1 satellite. Crude resolution of data, but there is a change patch at the eastern part of the crater after the eruption (probable ash fall?) pic.twitter.com/Hug31WDalY
— Sotiris Valkaniotis (@SotisValkan) December 9, 2019
Image: Twitter
