NZ currently
not a majoe
remains active all year round
has been si in my entire lifetime
its always spewing steam especially
i honestly see it as a permnent release valve for all our volcanic activity
occasionally blows,NATURALLY REALLY
humans unfortually get killed because theres always someone there poking aroundand no ne knows when they do blow
New Zealand police say there are no survivors from White Island volcano eruption; fears for Australian tourists and Ovation of the Seas cruise ship passengers
Updated about 3 hours ago
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VIDEO: Video from eyewitness Michael Schade shows clouds of smoke and ash above White Island. (ABC News)
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New Zealand police say they do not believe they will find any more survivors after a devastating volcanic eruption engulfed tourists on the country's White Island.
Key points:
- Police say the response to the eruption is now a recovery operation, with no more survivors expected to be found
- Aircraft scouring the island have found no signs of life
- Five people are confirmed dead but as many as 50 people were on the island and only 18 survived
Around 50 tourists and guides were believed to have been on the tiny island, off the east coast of the North Island, when the eruption happened at 2:11pm local time, blasting plumes of white smoke, ash and debris 12,000 feet into the sky.
Twenty-three survivors were taken off the island by rescuers after the eruption, but five of them died.
Authorities said most of the evacuees had suffered burns.
✔@MetService
White Island eruption was also visible on satellite images. ^AJ
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Late on Monday, police said aircraft scouring the island for any signs of life had not seen any survivors.
"Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation," a statement said.
"Police are working urgently to confirm the exact number of those who have died, further to the five confirmed deceased already."
Operation will involve air and sea searches
A New Zealand Defence Force ship is approaching the island and will deploy drones at first light.
Police have said the island is still too dangerous for anyone to land on it.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said a number of Australians had been caught up in the "terrible tragedy", including 24 Australians who were visiting the island as part of a cruise ship group.
Scott Morrison
✔@ScottMorrisonMP
A terrible tragedy is unfolding in NZ after the volcano eruption on Whakaari/White Island. Australians have been caught up in this terrible event and we are working to determine their wellbeing.
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He said Australian authorities had so far only been able to identify the Australians who had been hospitalised and hoped to know more in the morning.
"We must prepare for some difficult news in the days ahead," he said.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said consular authorities were moving to help Australians "hurt" in the eruption.
PHOTO: A woman on a boat takes a photo of the volcano on White Island just moments after it erupted. (Twitter: Michael Schade)
The captain of the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship said some passengers and crew had been on the island at the time of the eruption and had not returned.
Police did not reveal the nationalities of the dead, but appealed for people who had friends or relatives on the island to get in touch.
'Devastation is an understatement'
The chairman of White Island Tours, Paul Quinn, said the company was "deeply saddened" by the disaster.
"Devastation is an understatement," he said.
PHOTO: White Island Tour operators land on White Island minutes after the volcanic eruption. (Supplied: Michael Schade)
"This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been impacted."
He said the company was assisting police and Civil Defence with the recovery effort.
"Our immediate focus is on supporting our staff, manuhiri [visitors] and respective whanau [extended family], who have been significantly impacted and are showing immense strength and courage," he said.
Another eruption can't be ruled out
New Zealand police say there are no survivors on volcano-hit island