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Monday 9 December 2019 08:23
At least five people been killed and dozens of others are injured or missing after a volcano erupted on a small island in New Zealand.
Police believe around 50 people were on White Island, in the Bay of Plenty, when the volcano blasted a huge plume of ash and steam into the air on Monday.
Deputy commissioner John Tims said 23 people had been taken off the island, including some with injuries.
Police added in a statement: “There remain a number of people on the island who are unaccounted for.”
The number of people missing on the island is in the double digits, police said.
Volcanic eruption kills five people in New Zealand, police say
Five people have died in the White Island volcanic eruption in New Zealand, police have said. Emergency workers are unable to access the island. White Island exploded with ash and steam on Monday while some 50 people were nearby, authorities said earlier. Among those caught up in the eruption were New Zealanders and tourists, including from Australia.
Five people died in the White Island volcanic eruption, police have confirmed.
Royal Caribbean International said guests from its cruise ship Ovation of the Seas had been visiting White Island.
“A number of our guests were touring the island today,” the company said. “We will offer all possible assistance to our guests and local authorities. Please keep all those affected in your prayers.”
The company statement said the ship would remain there overnight until it learned more on the situation.
“My god,” wrote Michael Schade on Twitter as he posted video of the eruption. “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.”
His video showed a wall of ash and steam around the island and a helicopter badly damaged and covered in ash.
He said one woman was badly injured but seemed “strong” by the end.
Twenty-three people have been taken off the island, including those with injuries, police deputy commissioner John Tims said.
One death was confirmed, and Mr Tims said the number was likely to rise.
He said it was too dangerous for police and rescue services to travel to the island but they wanted to urgently get back as quickly as they could. There had been no contact with those who remained missing on the island, he added.
A volcano has erupted on a small island in New Zealand where dozens of tourists were exploring on Monday afternoon.
One person was killed, several injured and others reported missing on White Island, after the volcano spewed ash and steam into the air.
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