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New Zealand volcano eruption: Jacinda Ardern says 'scale of tragedy is devastating' – latest updates
New Zealand volcano eruption: police to launch criminal investigation over White Island deaths – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
PM confirms five dead after White Island eruption, with missing and injured are from New Zealand, Australia, the US, UK, China, Germany and Malaysia
PM confirms five dead after White Island eruption, as health authorities say some of the injured will not survive severe burns. Follow rolling updates
John Tims of NZ police was asked about whether the investigation would focus on the tour operators to the island.:
“So we’ll look into if there was anyone criminally responsible for the deaths and injuries. It’s early days yet. So we’re just going to have to work through the evidence, talk to people, and conduct the investigation,” Tims said.
“Not all of the (burns) patients will survive,” Watson said.
“There’s many who have suffered inhalation injuries, damage to lungs, so they’re requiring airway support. At this stage, that’s the majority of the people who are in the hospitals,” Watson said.
Of the 31 people injured, 25 are now in our four regional burns units located in Christchurch, Hutt valley, Waikato and Middlemore hospital, Watson said.
“They will be transferred to one of our regional burns units as soon as there’s capacity. All our burns units are full to capacity. Our plastic surgeons, hospitals, anaesthetists are doing their best to treat the many who have sustained injuries.”
Dr Pete Watson also told the press conference that 27 of the 31 people being treated have suffered greater than 30% body-surface burns.
New Zealand police also say they are launching a criminal investigation into the disaster.
The nationalities of those on the island at the time of the explosion have been confirmed as 2 from UK, 4 from Germany, 24 from Australia, 5 from NZ, 2 from China, 9 from the US, one from Malaysia.
Dr Pete Watson from the ministry of health is now updating the conference.
He said patients have been transferred to burns units across New Zealand.
Many have sustained substantial burns, including inhalation burns.
Patients are aged between 13-72.
He says they may transfer seriously injured patients to burns units in Australia.
We are now hearing from John Tims, Commissioner of police in New Zealand.
He has confirmed 5 fatalities. The bodies have been transported to Auckland where a post-mortem will be done.
New Zealand police’s press conference has begin. The first speaker is Sarah Stuart-Black, a Civil Defence spokesperson
“We were struck by the amazing efforts from first responders,” she tells the press conference”. “I would like to express our deepest sympathies for the families affected”
She said the ministry of foreign affairs and trade is providing consular assistance to foreign nationals affected by the eruption. She said monitoring equipment was still functioning on he island and was providing real-time data. There has been a decline in seismic activity.
She said there is a 50% chance chance of another similar eruption in the next 24 hours. If there is another eruption, it is unlikely to reach the mainland.
Following Monday’s eruption, GeoNet has put together some detailed information about White Island. This includes:
It was in almost continuous eruption from 1976-2000 and numerous explosive eruptions impacted the entire Main Crater floor area. A second eruptive episode started in 2011 and continues today.
In 1914 a landslide destroyed a mining village and killed 10 workers on the Main Crater floor. There was no eruption related to this landslide.
You can read their entire post here.
Earlier police said work was being done to enable the recovery of the eight people who remained unaccounted for following yesterday’s eruption.
Earlier police said work was being done to enable the recovery of the eight people who remained unaccounted for following yesterday’s eruption.
“Recovering the remaining victims and returning them to their loved ones is an absolute priority for NZ Police,” police said in a statement on Facebook.
“Recovering the remaining victims and returning them to their loved ones is an absolute priority for NZ Police,” police said in a statement on Facebook.
The first press conference we are expecting is from New Zealand police who will be giving an update on the emergency response to the volcanic eruption at Whakaari/White Island. It’s expected to get underway in the next few minutes.
The first press conference we are expecting is from New Zealand police who will be giving an update on the emergency response to the volcanic eruption at Whakaari/White Island. It’s expected to get underway in the next few minutes.
We are expecting several press conferences in the next hour, including from police in Wellington, the mayor of Whakatane, and from GNS Science, New Zealand’s leading provider of Earth, geoscience and isotope research and consultancy services.
We are expecting several press conferences in the next hour, including from police in Wellington, the mayor of Whakatane, and from GNS Science, New Zealand’s leading provider of Earth, geoscience and isotope research and consultancy services.
One of the families listed as missing is the Langfords from North Sydney. The parents, Anthony and Kristine Langford, were on holiday with their two children Jesse, 19, and Winona, 17.
Jesse graduated from Marist North Shore in 2018. The school’s principal, Tony Duncan, emailed parents letting them know that the former student was listed as missing.
“It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm to you that several members of our Marist North shore family are missing in the aftermath of the White Island volcano disaster.”
“Jesse, who graduated last year was a talented and popular student during his time at the school, finishing up as Mackillop House captain,” he said.
He asked for school families to have the Langfords in their prayers.
The New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has made a statement to parliament about the volcano’s eruption. She confirmed that of the 47 people on or near White Island at the time of the eruption, five were dead, eight were missing and 31 sustained injuries “many of them critical”.
“The scale of this tragedy is devastating”, she told parliament. “Our hearts go out to the families of those who are injured, missing or deceased.
Ardern paid tribute to the pilots and crew of three helicopters who flew to the island after the eruption to help the rescue operation.
She said among those missing citizens from Australia, the US, the UK, China, Germany, Malaysia and New Zealand.
“To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your grief and sorrow and we are devastated,” Ardern said.
“To our international partners and friends, we will do everything we can to support you as you have supported us in times past.
“In particular, our family in Australia has been heavily impacted... We feel the pull of our bond acutely at this time.”
Ardern acknowledged the “extraordinary efforts” of the medical professionals across the country who are looking after the injured.
“As we focus on the tragic events of Whakaari/White Island, I’m reminded of two things: there is no limit to New Zealand’s capacity to mobilise, to respond, to care and embrace those impacted by tragedy,” she said.
“We are a nation full of ordinary people who do extraordinary things.”
Hello this is Alison Rourke taking over this live blog from my colleague, Kate Lyons.
If you are just joining us, here’s the latest on who has been affected by the eruption on White Island.
We know that five people have died. Three of them are thought to be Australians, according the Australian PM, Scott Morrison. The Guardian also understands that two guides from the island were also killed. A further eight people are confirmed as missing. We understand 47 people were on the island at the time of the eruption, 38 of them from the cruise liner Ovation of the Seas. New Zealand’s Red Cross has published a list of people who have been listed as missing and those who have been accounted for. You can reach that list here.
A report from AAP:
The air is heavy and flags are at half mast in Whakatane.
Unlike Monday, when police and emergency services flew into furious action after Whakaari’s eruption, the town is now calm and waiting.
They are waiting for White Island to be cleared for access, and they are waiting for updates about those in hospital. Those waiting for news are doing so at the local marae, or Maori meeting house.
“The marae provides a focal point for the community to rally together, to provide help and care for those who are hurting at the moment,” community leader William Stewart told AAP.
“At 10 o’clock this morning we opened the marae and undertook a karakia, a spiritual ceremony.
“We invited those who had been impacted, staff, emergency response teams, friends and family of those that were caught up in yesterday’s events.”
People from all backgrounds are bringing food and offering support.
Stewart said more than a hundred people attended, including Australians.
“People of different backgrounds. The tribe was here and there were a lot of locals and people from out of town drawn by yesterday’s events,” he said.
“Absolutely people are grieving and it’s completely understandable.
“You don’t need to talk to them to realise they’re hurting and they’re deep in grief.
“It’s a privilege for us as a tribe to be able to welcome people here and be able to care for them.”
Marae leaders maintain close communications with police and other authorities; Australian consular support made themselves known on Monday.
Stewart was eager to point out a historical connection between the marae and Australia and the United Kingdom - two of the countries that had nationals on or near Whakaari during the eruption.
The marae is known as Mataatua or ‘the house that came home’.
The meeting house was built in the 1870s, but seized by colonial powers to Australia and then Britain for exhibitions and kept overseas for more than a century.
It returned in 1996, and following restoration work takes pride of place in Whakatane.
“That’s why it’s such a fitting place for today. It’s a symbol of our resilience, our unity and our strength,” Stewart said.
“It’s pertinent, because we do have some Australian whanau, Australian family that were impacted yesterday. There’s no better place for them than ‘the house that came home’ and is now back on our land.”
AAP reports that a website set up by the New Zealand Red Cross to help connect people affected by the catastrophic volcanic eruption off the North Island has been inundated by families of the missing.
People were seeking information about loved ones from the United Kingdom, United States, China, Singapore, Bourdeaux in France, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Canada, Portugal, Burma, New Delhi, New Guinea, and Holland.
So far, five people have been confirmed dead.
It is believed up to three of those people are Australians, although this has not been confirmed. Another eight, all believed to be Australians, are missing or unaccounted for.
Some 34 people, including 13 Australians, were rescued and taken to hospital mostly suffering burns. Of these, 31 remain in hospital while three have been discharged.
Here is the Red Cross list of the Australians listed as missing at 09.30 AEDT. Some may still be in hospital, some may be unaccounted for and some may be safe but not yet able to contact the Red Cross or others to notify their status.
Australians listed as missing as of 9:30am AEDT
South Australia
Gavin Brian Dallow, 35, Adelaide
Zoe Hosking, 15, Adelaide
Lisa, no other details, Adelaide
Queensland
Robert Rogers, 78, Herberton, Queensland
Maree Fish, 46, Brisbane
Amy Miall, 30, Brisbane
New South Wales
Maureen Jones, 68, Bathurst NSW
Jason David Griffiths, 33, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Karla Michelle Mathews, 32, Coffs Habour, NSW
Richard Aaron Elzer, 32, Coffs Harbour
Alison Harris, 52, Newcastle, NSW
Anthony Langford, 51, North Sydney
Jesse Landford, 18, North Sydney
Winona Langford, 17, North Sydney
Kristine Langford, age not given, Australia (believed North Sydney)
Gary Woolley, age not given, Sydney
Jane Murray, 56, Sydney
Marion London, 56, Sydney
Sheree Toope, 31, Sydney
Mathew Thomas, 31, Tamworth NSW
Victoria
Stuart Raymond Trott, 45, Melbourne
Australia (no state named)
Jessica Richards, 20, Australia
Julie Richards, 47, Australia
Martin Hollander, 48, Australia
Susan Maree Cole, no other details, Australia
NZ Red Cross website: redcross.org.nz
Recovering the remaining victims an ‘absolute priority’ for NZ police
New Zealand police have issued a new statement, saying they were continuing work to recover the eight people who are unaccounted for, it reads:
Morgan Godfrey writes for the Guardian:
Zoe Hosking, a year 9 student from Adelaide, is among those missing, her school has confirmed, along with her entire family.
