This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50715047
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
New Zealand volcano: 'No sign of life' after White Island eruption | New Zealand volcano: 'No sign of life' after White Island eruption |
(32 minutes later) | |
Reconnaissance flights over New Zealand's White Island volcano have not identified any survivors there after Monday's eruption, police say. | Reconnaissance flights over New Zealand's White Island volcano have not identified any survivors there after Monday's eruption, police say. |
Up to 50 people were believed to be on the island. Five people are known to have died and 23 were rescued. | Up to 50 people were believed to be on the island. Five people are known to have died and 23 were rescued. |
Early on Tuesday, police said they believed that anyone who could have been found alive had been evacuated. | Early on Tuesday, police said they believed that anyone who could have been found alive had been evacuated. |
Tourists were seen walking inside the crater of White Island volcano moments before it erupted. | Tourists were seen walking inside the crater of White Island volcano moments before it erupted. |
"Based on the information we have, we do not believe there are any survivors on the island," the latest police update says. | |
White Island, also called Whakaari, is the country's most active volcano. Despite that, the privately owned island is a tourist destination with frequent day tours and scenic flights available. | White Island, also called Whakaari, is the country's most active volcano. Despite that, the privately owned island is a tourist destination with frequent day tours and scenic flights available. |
Late on Monday, Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims told reporters that "both New Zealand and overseas tourists" were believed to be involved. | Late on Monday, Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims told reporters that "both New Zealand and overseas tourists" were believed to be involved. |
Rescuers are not able to reach the island because of the risk of further eruptions. It is currently night time in the area. | Rescuers are not able to reach the island because of the risk of further eruptions. It is currently night time in the area. |
Who was on White Island? | Who was on White Island? |
There are few details about those caught in the eruption. Some who had gone to the island were passengers from the Ovation of the Seas, a cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean. | There are few details about those caught in the eruption. Some who had gone to the island were passengers from the Ovation of the Seas, a cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean. |
It left Sydney last week and stopped near Auckland on New Zealand's North Island before arriving in the city of Tauranga, near White Island, on Sunday. | It left Sydney last week and stopped near Auckland on New Zealand's North Island before arriving in the city of Tauranga, near White Island, on Sunday. |
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians had "been caught up in this terrible event", adding that authorities were "working to determine their wellbeing". | Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians had "been caught up in this terrible event", adding that authorities were "working to determine their wellbeing". |
A web page set up by the New Zealand Red Cross for families to register missing loved ones includes people from Australia, New Zealand, the US, India and several European countries. | A web page set up by the New Zealand Red Cross for families to register missing loved ones includes people from Australia, New Zealand, the US, India and several European countries. |
What happened at the volcano? | What happened at the volcano? |
The eruption of White Island began at about 14:11 local time (01:11 GMT) on Monday. | The eruption of White Island began at about 14:11 local time (01:11 GMT) on Monday. |
Visitor Michael Schade - who was on a boat leaving the island after a morning tour - filmed a thick plume of ash and smoke as the volcano erupted. | Visitor Michael Schade - who was on a boat leaving the island after a morning tour - filmed a thick plume of ash and smoke as the volcano erupted. |
He told the BBC he was at the crater just 30 minutes before the eruption. | He told the BBC he was at the crater just 30 minutes before the eruption. |
"It was still safe-ish but they were trying to limit the group sizes [of people visiting the volcano]." | "It was still safe-ish but they were trying to limit the group sizes [of people visiting the volcano]." |
Describing the eruption, he said: "We had just got on the boat... then someone pointed it out and we saw it. I was basically just shocked. The boat turned back and we grabbed some people that were waiting on the pier." | Describing the eruption, he said: "We had just got on the boat... then someone pointed it out and we saw it. I was basically just shocked. The boat turned back and we grabbed some people that were waiting on the pier." |
Another witness, Brazilian Allessandro Kauffmann, said in an Instagram post in Portuguese that the boat he was in had left five minutes before the eruption. | |
"This other tour that arrived right after, unfortunately they did not manage to leave in time, and there were some people that suffered serious burns," he added. | |
A live feed from the volcano showed a group of visitors inside the crater before images went dark. | A live feed from the volcano showed a group of visitors inside the crater before images went dark. |
Was there any forewarning? | Was there any forewarning? |
On 3 December, geological hazard monitoring website GeoNet warned "the volcano may be entering a period where eruptive activity is more likely than normal", although it added "the current level of activity does not pose a direct hazard to visitors". | On 3 December, geological hazard monitoring website GeoNet warned "the volcano may be entering a period where eruptive activity is more likely than normal", although it added "the current level of activity does not pose a direct hazard to visitors". |
University of Auckland associate professor Jan Lindsay said the alert level was recently raised from one to two. "There was a heightened level of unrest and everyone was aware," she said. | University of Auckland associate professor Jan Lindsay said the alert level was recently raised from one to two. "There was a heightened level of unrest and everyone was aware," she said. |
"[The volcano] has a persistently active hydrothermal system... if gases build up under a block of clay or mud they can be released quite suddenly," Prof Lindsay said. | "[The volcano] has a persistently active hydrothermal system... if gases build up under a block of clay or mud they can be released quite suddenly," Prof Lindsay said. |
When asked if visitors should have been on the island, Prof Lindsay said: "It's a difficult question. It's often in a state of heightened unrest. | When asked if visitors should have been on the island, Prof Lindsay said: "It's a difficult question. It's often in a state of heightened unrest. |
"GNS [New Zealand's geoscience institute] put out their alert bulletins and have good communication with tour companies, and they know what the risk is." | |
White Island has seen several eruptions over the years, most recently in 2016 but no-one was hurt in that event. | White Island has seen several eruptions over the years, most recently in 2016 but no-one was hurt in that event. |
Are you in the area? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |