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| New Zealand volcano eruption: five dead and eight missing after White Island blast – latest updates | New Zealand volcano eruption: five dead and eight missing after White Island blast – latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jacinda Ardern confirms that New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the US, Britain, China and Malaysia are among missing on White Island/Whakaari | Jacinda Ardern confirms that New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the US, Britain, China and Malaysia are among missing on White Island/Whakaari |
| The atmosphere is sombre at the wharf in Whakatane, with three White Island boats docked in port. A rubber dingy in the back of one of the boats remains covered in ash, and was used yesterday to rescue 23 people off the island following the eruption. | |
| Local tourism charters have cancelled today’s excursions, saying it wouldn’t be “appropriate” after yesterday’s tragedy. Signs posted by the harbourmaster at the wharf warn people to stay five nautical miles away from White Island, unless tasked with official police or search and rescue business. | |
| A magnitude 5.3 quake has occurred south of Gisborne. | |
| Why was there no warning about the eruption? | |
| Shane Cronin, a professor at the University of Auckland, has written analysis about what caused the eruption and why we didn’t know it was coming. | |
| Jacinda Ardern met with first responders this morning. | Jacinda Ardern met with first responders this morning. |
| Laura Clark, the high commissioner to New Zealand has confirmed that two British women were among the injured. They have not been named. | Laura Clark, the high commissioner to New Zealand has confirmed that two British women were among the injured. They have not been named. |
| This is Kate Lyons taking over the blog from Charlotte Graham-McLay. If you have questions, news tips or something to share you can get in touch with me on Twitter or on email: kate.lyons@theguardian.com | This is Kate Lyons taking over the blog from Charlotte Graham-McLay. If you have questions, news tips or something to share you can get in touch with me on Twitter or on email: kate.lyons@theguardian.com |
| Here’s what we know so far: | Here’s what we know so far: |
| Five people are confirmed dead and eight people are missing, presumed dead, New Zealand officials confirmed on Tuesday morning. | Five people are confirmed dead and eight people are missing, presumed dead, New Zealand officials confirmed on Tuesday morning. |
| Thirty-one people are currently in hospital and three have been discharged. Many of the injured were in critical condition, most from burns. | Thirty-one people are currently in hospital and three have been discharged. Many of the injured were in critical condition, most from burns. |
| Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters that aerial reconnaissance flights did not show any signs of life on the volcanic White Island and officials are not expecting to find any survivors on the island. | Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters that aerial reconnaissance flights did not show any signs of life on the volcanic White Island and officials are not expecting to find any survivors on the island. |
| New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China and Malaysia were among the missing and injured, confirmed Ardern. | New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China and Malaysia were among the missing and injured, confirmed Ardern. |
| Australian prime minister Scott Morrison confirmed that 11 Australians are unaccounted for, he said three Australians are believed to be among the dead. “I fear there is worse news to come,” he said. | Australian prime minister Scott Morrison confirmed that 11 Australians are unaccounted for, he said three Australians are believed to be among the dead. “I fear there is worse news to come,” he said. |
| Ardern confirmed that there were two explosions on the volcanic White Island on Monday afternoon, and the eruptions spewed a plume of ash thousands of metres into the air. She said: “It’s now clear that there were two groups on the island - those who were able to be evacuated and those who were close to the eruption.” | Ardern confirmed that there were two explosions on the volcanic White Island on Monday afternoon, and the eruptions spewed a plume of ash thousands of metres into the air. She said: “It’s now clear that there were two groups on the island - those who were able to be evacuated and those who were close to the eruption.” |
| White Island is about 50 km (30 miles) from the east coast of North Island and huge plumes were visible from the mainland. Volcanologists said the ash plume shot 12,000 feet (3,658 m) into the air. | White Island is about 50 km (30 miles) from the east coast of North Island and huge plumes were visible from the mainland. Volcanologists said the ash plume shot 12,000 feet (3,658 m) into the air. |
| There were still concerns on Tuesday morning about how close rescuers can get to the island due to ashfall, with officials saying they had reports of boats returning filled with up to half a metre of ash. | There were still concerns on Tuesday morning about how close rescuers can get to the island due to ashfall, with officials saying they had reports of boats returning filled with up to half a metre of ash. |
| Ray Cas, a professor emeritus at Monash University, has told Reuters that the island “has been a disaster waiting to happen for many years”. | Ray Cas, a professor emeritus at Monash University, has told Reuters that the island “has been a disaster waiting to happen for many years”. |
| “Having visited it twice, I have always felt that it was too dangerous to allow the daily tour groups that visit the uninhabited island volcano by boat and helicopter,” Cas said in comments published by the Australian Science Media Centre. | “Having visited it twice, I have always felt that it was too dangerous to allow the daily tour groups that visit the uninhabited island volcano by boat and helicopter,” Cas said in comments published by the Australian Science Media Centre. |
| More front pages from Australia: | More front pages from Australia: |
| The eruption leads the papers in Australia today. | The eruption leads the papers in Australia today. |
| Stephen D’Antal in Tauranga has spoken to Australian journalist Donna Field, who was on board the Ovation of the Seas for a family holiday. | Stephen D’Antal in Tauranga has spoken to Australian journalist Donna Field, who was on board the Ovation of the Seas for a family holiday. |
| She said passengers had been told to be back on board by 5.30pm on Tuesday but had no information on when they would sail. | She said passengers had been told to be back on board by 5.30pm on Tuesday but had no information on when they would sail. |
| “The mood has changed dramatically,” said Field, who works for the ABC. | “The mood has changed dramatically,” said Field, who works for the ABC. |
| Field said she watched ship’s captain Henrik Loy on Monday afternoon as he dealt with breaking news of the disaster to the passengers. | Field said she watched ship’s captain Henrik Loy on Monday afternoon as he dealt with breaking news of the disaster to the passengers. |
| “His voice was pretty shaky,” she said. “He had two phones in his hands and was just pacing on the bridge. I can’t imagine what he was going through. Everyone just stood stock still and listened. They’re shaken up.” | “His voice was pretty shaky,” she said. “He had two phones in his hands and was just pacing on the bridge. I can’t imagine what he was going through. Everyone just stood stock still and listened. They’re shaken up.” |