Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro
euronewsMon, 09 Dec 2019 07:49 UTC
White Island volcano, New Zealand
A volcano erupted in New Zealand on Monday leaving at least one dead and seven tourists critically injured. Police said there could be more fatalities. 23 people have been transported to shore and over 27 remain on the island.
"We are working to confirm the numbers involved. At this stage, it is too dangerous for police and rescue services to go to the island. However, we continue to assess the conditions which would allow us to go onto the island", Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims said.
CEO of the New Zealand Cruise Association Kevin O'Sullivan confirmed that 30 to 38 of the victims are passengers of the cruise ship
Ovation of the Seas.
The eruption began about 2:11 p.m. local time (0111 GMT) on White Island, about 50 kilometres from the east coast of North Island, authorities said, sending up smoke visible from the mainland.
Police is working with National Emergency Management Agency to coordinate the search and rescue operation.
Australian Prime Minister has offered emergency aid to New Zealand and has confirmed that Australian tourists have been "caught up" in the disaster.
"There were some injuries and the focus is on getting these injured people back safely and to get them to a hospital." There seemed to be no danger for people in coastal areas farther away, Prime Minister Jacinta Arden said.
The island's immediate surroundings were hazardous because of the eruption, the National Emergency Management Agency said in a statement, adding that falling ash might affect some areas. The "short-lived eruption" threw an ash plume about 12,000 ft (3,658 m) high, New Zealand's geoscience agency GNS Science said in a statement but added there were no current signs of an escalation.
The White Island volcano is one of New Zealand's most active.
Comment: Just a day earlier, New Zealand
experienced a record in lighting strikes:
In the 24 hours leading up to 7am this morning, 109,000 lightning strikes were recorded over New Zealand and our surrounding waters, with 18,000 over the land.
Previously our records had only seen 44,000 strikes over both land and sea.
Update: New Zealand Herald reports:
At least five people are dead after Whakaari/White Island erupted today, and "a number" of people are still unaccounted for.
National Operation Commander Deputy Commissioner John Tims told a press conference at 9.10pm that New Zealanders and tourists are involved.
A number of the tourists are from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, but police cannot confirm nationalities.
Police do not know if there are people on the island alive tonight. The five people dead are people who were taken off the island today. The other 18 rescued all have injuries to some degree.
Update Dec 10RT
reports:
Burn centers across New Zealand are full to capacity as more than two dozen victims are being treated for horrific wounds suffered in a volcanic eruption on White Island, leaving many with burns on over 70 percent of their bodies.
At least 27 of the 31 people injured in the volcanic blast that rocked the island on Monday suffered severe burns covering over two-thirds of their skin, the government said in a statement, noting the possibility that some of the injured will not survive.
"All our burns units are full to capacity. Our plastic surgeons, hospital, anesthetists are doing their best to treat the many who have sustained injuries," said acting Ministry of Health adviser Dr Pete Watson. "Twenty-seven of the 31 have suffered greater than 71 percent body surface burns."
With five already confirmed killed, police said eight people are still missing and likely did not make it, leaving only those who were able to flee immediately among the survivors.
"I would strongly suggest that there is no one that has survived on the island," New Zealand Deputy Commissioner John Tims told reporters, adding: "We are doing everything we can to get back to that island."
Tims also noted that a criminal probe had been opened into the disaster, focused on the "circumstances of death and injuries on White Island," which he said would be carried out alongside a separate investigation by regulatory agency WorkSafe.
Meanwhile less than a day after the volcanic eruption a
strong 5.3-magnitude earthquake shook New Zealand's North Island.
Comment: Just a day earlier, New Zealand experienced a record in lighting strikes: Update: New Zealand Herald reports:
Update Dec 10
RT reports:
Meanwhile less than a day after the volcanic eruption a strong 5.3-magnitude earthquake shook New Zealand's North Island.