Tourist tragedy on volcano island - 16th December 2019

Tourists visiting New Zealand's most active volcano, Whakaari (White Island), had been near its crater when an eruption claimed at least 16 lives. Rescuers saved 23 tourists from the island, although eight remained missing, presumed dead, as falling ash frustrated the rescue operation.

Of the rescued, two have already succumbed to their injuries and others remain in intensive care.

The private island, a popular tourist destination with at least 10,000 visitors annually, last erupted in 2016 without injury. New Zealand's geological hazard monitoring website, GeoNet, had warned that "the volcano may be entering a period where eruptive activity is more likely than normal," on 3 December. Yet it stated, "The current level of activity does not pose a direct hazard to visitors."

Despite GeoNet reporting a 50-60% likelihood of a further eruption within 24 hours, victims' families pleaded for the bodies to be recovered. Whakatane Mayor Judy Turner told reporters "We are now living with a growing sense of desperation to bring home those that we know are there. The frustration of those families most affected is completely understandable."

Whakaari, in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island's north-west coast, is a spiritual location to the Ngati Awa tribe. Their people and expert knowledge played key roles in the recovery mission and a Maori 'rahui', protecting the area and restricting access remained in place until the bodies had been recovered.

The New Zealand police recovery mission proceeded despite risks of further eruptions, weather, wind direction and sea conditions. Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Clement admitted, "A lot of things have to go right for this to work." Eight New Zealand Defence Force specialists successfully recovered all but 2 of the bodies on Friday morning despite increasing chances of a further eruption.

Most survivors are still in intensive care across the country, where burns specialist surgeons are working day and night to treat all patients, They will require an estimated 120 square metres of replacement skin. Some victims are still unidentified because of the severity of their burns.