New Zealand White Island volcano tragedy: Fears for Australians
Police in New Zealand have said a sixth person has died in hospital following the volcanic eruption on White Island.
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Police in New Zealand have said a sixth person has died following the eruption on volcanic White Island.
A statement said the person was being treated at an Auckland hospital but did not confirm their nationality.
“Police can confirm a further person has died following the eruption on Whakaari/White Island, bringing the official toll to six,” the statement said.
“The person was earlier being treated at Middlemore Hospital.
“Police remain focused on supporting families at this terrible time.”
It comes as New Zealand Police have launched a criminal investigation into the deaths of those caught up in the White Island volcano explosion.
Deputy Commissioner John Tims said police are working hard to support the families of those involved.
“This is an absolutely heartbreaking [tragedy] that we are all involved in,” he said.
“We believe everyone that could be taken from the island yesterday was rescued in the evacuation.”
Police have confirmed five people were killed and another eight were missing presumed dead.
He said no signs of life were seen during numerous flights today, but he had seen a picture of the island with six markings on it that could potentially identify where more bodies are.
“We’re doing everything we can to get back on to that island … absolutely everything we can … we’re determined,” he said.
“We understand the desire of family and locals to remove their family around the island.
“We are working around the clock.”
“The terms of reference will be developed over the next few days,” he said.
“This will be carried out in parallel with the WorkSafe New Zealand investigation.
WorkSafe New Zealand has opened a health and safety investigation into the harm and loss of life caused by the eruption. As information comes to hand, we’ll provide updates to everyone.”
However, they backed away from an earlier announcement that the probe was a criminal investigation, saying instead it was being carried out on behalf of the coroner.
VICTIMS FLOWN TO AUSTRALIA
The Ministry of Health has revealed New Zealand’s burns units are at capacity, with some survivors of the Whakaari volcano disaster being flown to Australia.
Spokesman Pete Watson said it was possible not all of the 31 people suffering horrific injuries – burns and lung damage from ash and gas – would survive.
“Of those injured, 27 of the 31 have suffered greater than 30 per cent total body surface area burns … and many have inhalation burns that require airways support,” he said.
HONEYMOONERS BADLY BURNED IN CRUEL TWIST
A US couple on their honeymoon were severely burned in the New Zealand White Island volcanic disaster, as Australians wait to hear news of loved ones who are still missing.
Lauren and Matthew Urey from Virginia were on the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas ship and went on the White Islands tour of the volcano when it erupted.
Before they left, Lauren called her parents on Monday to tell them of the adventure ahead.
“She said they were going to the volcano,” Lauren’s mother, Barbara Barham, told The Washington Post.
“My husband was joking around and said, ‘I hope it’s not a live volcano’.”
Lauren said it is active, but they “weren’t concerned that there was any chance of an eruption”.
The couple are in hospital with severe burn injuries.
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Mrs Barham said she got a call after the eruption happened from Matthew’s mother who had got a distressing voicemail from him.
“Her son called and said that they had been on the excursion and there had been a volcano eruption and they were burned very bad,” Mrs Barham said.
“He said he would try to call as soon as he could, but talking and making phone calls was difficult. His hands were so badly burned, it was hard for him to make a phone call.”
“I’m just livid,” Mrs Barham said.
“There’s been warnings about it … My son-in-law never would have booked the excursion if he knew there was any chance of them being injured.”
Mrs Barham said Lauren is recovering at Auckland Hospital and Matthew was flown to a hospital in Christchurch for treatment of burns that affect about 80 per cent of his body.
Paul Toope from Sydney got a text message from his daughter Sheree Toope who was initially feared as missing.
In what can only be described as a “sliding doors” moment, Ms Toope, 31, was meant to go on the volcano tour with her wife but did not end up going.
“I’ve talked to Sheree, I couldn’t contact her last night, it hasn’t been pleasant with all the deaths and the unknown,” Mr Toope told News Corp.
“She’s quite distressed, a lot of people are finding out people they’ve met have passed away.
“Her and her wife were supposed to go on the volcano tour. They were looking to go on it. For some reason they opted not to go on it.
“It is definitely a relief, it is very stressful for us.”
Speaking this afternoon on the “heartbreaking situation”, NZ police deputy commissioner Don Tims doubled down on reports that no further signs of life were seen on the island following the explosion.
Mr Tims said conditions were working against authorities’ efforts to inspect the island, but he hoped an examination could be carried out today.
“This will be done by a drone able to carry specialised measuring equipment,” Mr Tims said.
“This requires a boat getting into, within 1km of the island, in order to launch the drones.
“We are hoping to do this today. Unfortunately, we have had one attempt, the conditions have been against us and it’s been too windy. We will continue to do so today if weather permits.”
He confirmed that five people were dead and that their bodies had been transported to Auckland for post-mortem examination.
GNS science predict there’s a 50 per cent chance of a smaller or similar sized eruption over the next 24 hours.
NZ chief medical officer Dr Pete Watson said of the 31 people injured, 25 were now in for regional burns units located in Christchurch, Hutt valley, Waikato and Middlemore hospital.
“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,” Dr Warson said.
“Our plastic surgeons, hospitals, anaesthetists are doing their best to treat the many who have sustained injuries. Twenty-seven of the 31 have suffered greater than 71 per cent body surface burns.
“Many have inhalation burns that remain airway support. The injured patients are aged between 13 and 72, and most, as you heard, are visitors to New Zealand.”
‘MISSING’ AUSTRALIANS REVEALED
A website managed by New Zealand Red Cross has listed the names of more than 20 Australians who have been reported as missing by family and friends following the volcano eruption on White Island off the coast of New Zealand.
New Zealand Red Cross activated the Family Links website at the request of New Zealand Police for people wanting to register themselves as “safe” or register a family member or friend as “missing”.
As of early this morning Australian time, the list included dozens of names of people from around the world who had been listed as “missing” by family or friends.
The Australians on the list were from all over the country, except the Northern Territory.
North Sydney family-of-four parents Anthony, 51, and Kristine Langford and their two teenage children Jesse, 19, and Winona, 17, are missing.
Gavin and Lisa Dallow and Lisa’s 15-year-old daughter, Zoe from Adelaide, took part in a day trip to the White Island, off of the country’s North Island, during a cruise.
Mrs Dallow has been found alive but critically injured in a New Zealand hospital by a relative.
Mr Dallow’s father, Brian, said they were on the island when the volcano erupted on Monday.
There is still no word on her husband or their daughter.
“Information is scant at this time but SAC is now seeking to provide preliminary advice to the school community,” the school said.
The three were on a tour of White Island with 21 other Australians when the active volcano erupted, spewing smoke, ash and debris thousands of metres into the air.
Amy Miall, 30, from Brisbane, and her partner Mathew Thomas, 31, from Tamworth, were feared missing but have since made contact with family.
Ms Miall’s father Anthony announced on social media today that his daughter was safe.
“For anyone who is worried about Amy, she is on the ship near the volcano disaster in NZ. We have been in touch with the embassy and the cruiseline and she is NOT missing and was not on the island when it erupted,” he wrote.
“We assume she along with 4000 others on the cruise are trying to contact relatives and our thoughts are with the missing and their families.”
Newlywed couple James, 23, and Madeleine Whitehouse, 24, from Brisbane, were also listed as missing but it’s since been confirmed they are safe.
To check the list of names, click here.
MISSING AUSSIES MAY BE ENTOMBED IN ASH
Eight people lost presumed dead including Australian tourists might forever be entombed under metres of ash on White Island with authorities warning the active volcano could again blow.
Six people are confirmed dead and another 30 injured in the eruption on Monday on the tiny island on New Zealand’s North Island.
But eight other travellers are missing and declared presumed dead with aerial drones sent into the crisis zone confirming no life.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said three Australians were believed to be among the confirmed dead and 13 were injured.
Rescuers described some of the injured as suffering horrific burns, some to 90 per cent of their bodies. They are being treated in a specialist hospital burns unit in Auckland.
But Mr Morrison added there were also Aussies among the missing.
“Yesterday there were 24 Australians enjoying a wonderful cruise in New Zealand, taking in those sights together,” Mr Morrison said today.
“They were aged between 17 and 72 and they took the option of a tour to White Island.
“We can confirm it has taken at least five lives.
“Of the 24 Australians, 13 of those are hospitalised. There are 11 Australians that are still unaccounted for.
“I fear there is worse news to come, this is a terrible tragedy.”
There were 47 tourists and local tour operators on the island at the time it blew.
The prime minister confirmed a number of people taken to hospital are in a “critical condition”.
TOURIST TOWN LEFT REELING
In the coastal tourist town of Whakatane locals hugged and cried as they stood on the shoreline waiting for word. At least two local tour operators were among the missing.
In the local Maori tribe marae, a ceremony was held for one of their confirmed dead.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited first responders at the Whakatane hospital and fire station to thank them for their efforts in responding to the calls for help.
“The first responders have done a pretty incredible job,” Ms Ardern said afterwards. Emotionally she hugged senior officers from The Ovation of The Seas cruise ship where many of the Australian victims were from.
Malcolm Rowson, deputy chief of the local voluntary fire brigade, said the burns were the worst he had ever seen.
“I have been doing this job for 40 years and I have never seen anything as bad as that,” he said.
“They were totally covered in grey soot and underneath were these horrible burns.”
Shaken volunteer fireman Chris Hands said he and many of his colleagues would need counselling to deal with what they had seen as they helped the scalded tourists off the boat and transported them to hospital.
“They were really bad and suffering various states of burns and shock. It is something you don’t want to see every day.
“Hopefully some of those people survived.”
A source told local media some of the victims rescued from White Island have suffered burns to 90 per cent of their bodies and may not survive.
VICTIMS HIT WITH SEVERE BURNS
Local man Geoff Hopkins reassured the deck full of patients they were okay but as they drifted in and out of consciousness with severe burns to most of their bodies he knew it wasn’t true.
The 50-year-old had been given a trip to White Island, known locally by its Maori name Whakaari, by his daughter Lilliani and they had just left the island and were on a boat returning to the mainland when there was a boom and the gasps from other day trippers.
Ash and plume rose high into the air and as it fell the Hopkins pair could see other tourists to the famous active volcano run into the sea.
Their boat launched a dinghy to pull people from the water.
When they were brought on deck the call went out for a doctor and two tourists from England and Slovenia rushed to help. Mr Hopkins, a pastor, and his daughter were first air trained and also offered to assist.
When the dinghy made the first of many relay runs to deliver the injured onto the deck, he realised how bad things were for some.
“They were horrifically burnt,” he told local media.
“People were in shorts and T-shirts so there was a lot of exposed skin that was massively burnt. Their faces were massively burnt but there were also huge burns under people’s clothes. So their clothes looked fine, but when you cut them off … I’ve never seen blisters like that.”
He described how the injured were all screaming as he and other poured freshwater onto their skins then they went into shock. The pair comforted those they could but he feared the ones he stayed with later died.
“My fear now is that they didn’t make it. There were five critical people on our boat and there’s been five fatalities confirmed … they were just so badly burnt.”
AFP TO HELP NZ AUTHORITIES
A forensics team from the Australian Federal Police is on its way to New Zealand to help identify victims.
Australia is also sending extra consular staff to support those affected.
Mr Morrison praised medical teams caring for the injured Australians.
“Some of those Australians will be a long way away from loved ones and they will be there on their own, and unaware of what has taken place because of the nature of their injuries,” Mr Morrison said.
A tour guide has been the first named among five people killed, with eight others still missing and 31 in hospital.
Hayden Marshall-Inman, from Whakatane in the eastern Bay of Plenty Region, was praised by former Whakatane mayor Tony Bonne as “a young energetic man, who has lost his life”.
The New Zealander’s brother, Mark posted on Facebook that he “passed away doing the one thing he loved”.
“Family and friends, very sad news this evening. My bro Hayden Marshall-Inman has passed away doing the one thing he loved. Thanks for all your messages. I’ll be in touch when we know more.
One friend, Grant Bateson, said Hayden was “truly one of the good guys”.
“So sorry to hear bro. He was such a top man. He’s left a huge impact on this world.”
Another friend, Julie Lockett, remembered his generosity.
“I worked at the Ohope 4 Square and whenever he came in and made a purchase he always gave us $5 to pay towards the next person’s groceries, he had the kindest heart, it was never about him, he definitely created a ripple affect of happiness to others, a very likeable guy.”
At least one Malaysian national is also among those killed, authorities said.
Malaysian authorities have confirmed that they were told of the death at 9.30am.
In a statement from the High Commission of Malaysia in Wellington said, they said: “(We were) informed by NZ authorities that at least one deceased is Malaysian.
QUAKE RATTLES NEW ZEALAND
Less than a day after the volcanic eruption on White Island off New Zealand’s north coast, there’s been a “strong” magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Gisborne on country’s North Island.
The shallow quake struck just before 1pm local time, according to information from national geological hazard monitoring system GeoNet.
The jolt was felt in Whakatane, 180 kilometres south of Gisborne, the closest city to White Island where a volcano erupted on Monday killing at least five people.
Another eight were still missing and presumed dead.
GeoNet said the earthquake was unrelated to the eruption at White Island.
ARDERN SAYS ‘UNLIKELY’ MISSING WILL BE ALIVE
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was unlikely the eight missing people would be found alive, and efforts were focused on recovering the bodies, which would take the death toll to 13. She said 31 people were in hospital.
Ardern confirmed that injured were being treated at seven different hospitals around the country: Auckland, Wellington, Middlemore, Tauranga, Christchurch, Hutt City, and Whakatane.
“That geographic spread is an indication of us using all the expertise available through the burns units throughout the country,” she said.
Among the injured were New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China and Malaysia.
“To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share your unimaginable grief at this moment and time and in your sorrow,” she said.
“You’re loved ones stood alongside Kiwis who are hosting you here – and we grieve with you and we grieve with them.
“To our Australian family, especially, we’ll do everything we can to support you as you have supported us.”
Paul Quinn, the chairman of White Island Tours, told TVNZ Breakfast that two of his staff were still unaccounted for.
The business is fully owned by Ngati Awa and takes over 10,000 tourists a year to the island.
Earlier, New Zealand police confirmed “no signs of life have been seen at any point” on the island and acting assistant commissioner Bruce Bird, alongside Ms Ardern, said it was still not safe to return to Whakaari.
“Today our focus will be on working with the experts in determining the safety for us to return to the island to look to recover those people who are currently missing,” Bird said.
“We will be relying on advice coming from a scientific and technical committee in Wellington … we will only go to the island when it is safe to do so for our people.”
A pilot who assessed no signs of life was able to land, Ardern said.
The pilot “physically moved around the island rather than just an aerial survey and did so for some time, and brought back that report that unfortunately there was no sign of life.”
Scott Morrison yesterday warned the country to prepare for some “difficult news in the days ahead” as he confirmed 24 Australians on the island at the time of the volcano eruption.
Forty-seven tourists were still on the private island off the country’s North Island when the volcano erupted, among them passengers on an Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, which left Sydney on December 4.
A New Zealand Defence Force ship approached the island at daylight to deploy drones and observation equipment, while a police identification team was assembling.
ISLAND ‘UNSAFE TO GO BACK’
Rescuers were told yesterday it was unsafe to go back to the island. The volcano monitoring organisation GeoNet said there had been “a steady decline in activity since the eruption”, although one volcanic expert said another eruption soon was a possibility.
NZ Deputy Commissioner John Tims said emergency services are unable to access the island.
“The island is unstable … the physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island,” he said.
“It is important that we consider the health and safety of those that will return to the island.”
The five people killed were taken off the island today and are of a “range of nationalities,” he said.
The New Zealand Defence Force sent personnel to assist and a Royal New Zealand air force P-3K2 Orion aircraft flew over White Island carrying out surveillance over the area, and two NH90 helicopters flew to Whakatane to assist.
Volcanic expert Dr Ken Gledhill from GNS science in New Zealand described the eruption as a “throat clearing”.
“It’s not a particularly big eruption, almost like a throat-clearing eruption and that’s probably why material won’t make it to the mainland,” Dr Gledhill said.
He also said it had quietened down but they cannot be certain there won’t be another eruption in the next 24 hours.
AUSSIE CRUISE SHIP INVOLVED
Photographs taken just before the volcano erupted show two tour groups from a cruise liner that left Sydney last week walking on the crater floor.
Many of the people on the island at the time of the eruption were from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship.
The captain of the ship announced to passengers that a group of guests and one crew member were on the island as the eruption occurred.
He told passengers on-board they’re waiting on information from the government to see what’s happened, a passenger said.
The ship’s owner, Royal Caribbean Cruises, said: “Ovation of the Seas will remain in port as long as needed to assist with the situation.”
One passenger said people were silent after the captain delivered the message and a helpline has been opened up on the ship for those who are missing loved ones.
The ship left Sydney last week on December 4 for its 12-day voyage and docked at Tauranga where passengers joined local tours to the volcano. There are 4579 passengers and 1595 crew on board.
It was scheduled to arrive at Wellington tomorrow before cruising around the South Island before heading back to Sydney.
A spokeswoman from Royal Caribbean International, which owns the luxury liner, confirmed passengers from the ship had taken local excursions to the volcano.
Our hearts go out to those affected by the tragic events in New Zealand. Family members with questions about the status of relatives traveling aboard Ovation of the Seas may inquire by going to this link: https://t.co/qb1ACR52dR via @RCLCorp
— Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (@RCLcorp) December 9, 2019
Ovation of the Seas passenger Nigel Walker and his family from Wollongong in NSW told The New Zealand Herald his thoughts were with those who were injured and unaccounted for.
“It’s tragic … I was only saying to my mother-in-law before the cruise that White Island would be a great place to visit. “
The New Zealand Cruise Association chief executive Kevin O’Sullivan said it was very concerned about some passengers from the Ovation of the Seas.
“Our primary concern right now is with the wellbeing of the passengers and all those involved. We would like to extend our heartfelt concern to the passengers and their families,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“Our hope is that everyone will be recovered quickly and unharmed, but at this time we have no further information.”
EYEWITNESSES SHOCKED BY BLAST
American tourist Michael Schade said he had only just left the island less than 30 minutes before it exploded and was “waiting for the boat to leave” when he witnessed the carnage.
“My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for (the) first time since 2001. My family … Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable,” he said.
“Those are some of the people put boat picked up. Praying for them and their recovery. Woman my mom tended to was in critical condition but seemed strong by the end. The helicopters on the island looked destroyed.”
Mr Schade described the incident as “hard to believe” and said: “Our whole tour group were literally standing at the edge of the main crater not 30 minutes before. My thoughts with the families of those currently unaccounted for, the people recovering now, and especially the rescue workers.”
Calvin Kingi, who works at White Island Tours, posted a picture to Facebook and said: “White island just erupted as we left, we have our work mates and a tour still on the island, I hope they (are) ok.”
Brazilian tourist Allessandro Kauffmann was exploring the volcano five minutes before it erupted.
He told News Corp a tour group of about 20 people stepped onto the island as his boat left.
His close brush with death has left him rattled.
“I am so shocked,” Mr Kauffmann said.
“They had two tours. Ours all went well as we managed to get off the volcano before the eruption.
“Already the second tour failed to leave in time.
“It was an unbelievable situation because we left around five minutes before the eruption.”
Mr Kauffmann captured dramatic footage of the enormous explosion and people scrambling for safety on his boat.
A man on a loudspeaker can be heard yelling: “I need everyone inside the boat right now” as giant plumes of smoke billow nearby.
Other passengers can be heard asking for an inhaler due to breathing concerns.
Mr Kauffman said his boat stayed to support those on the volcano at the time of explosion.
Melbourne dad Mathew Merington said he and his kids are “praying” for those caught up in the tragedy.
The family stayed on-board the Ovation of the Seas ship as others ventured out to the volcano.
Mr Merington said other tourists spent the day exploring the mainland and may not be aware of the unfolding disaster.
“It’s sad but we are praying for the impacted ones,” he told the Herald Sun.
“My kids are doing okay.”
CAMERAS CAPTURE LAST MOMENTS BEFORE ERUPTION
The White Island Crater Rim camera, held by GeoNet, showed a string of people visiting the crater at that time.
Subsequent shots from the camera, displayed online every 10 minutes, show the blast rendered the camera inoperable.
The volcano, located around 40 kilometres offshore of the Bay of Plenty, sent huge amounts of white smoke – most likely steam – into the air.
St John director of operations Norma Lane said 11 helicopters and 12 ambulances were dispatched.
“One helicopter with paramedics and St John Medical Director Dr Tony Smith on board spent a short time on the island assessing the scene. Staging points were set up at Whakatane Airport and Whakatane Coastguard base to assess and triage patients. In total St John responded with 11 helicopters and 12 ambulances to treat and transport patients to various hospitals including Whakatane, Tauranga, Middlemore and Auckland City, by air and road.
“St John has treated patients with injuries ranging from critical and serious through to moderate and minor. It has been an exceptionally complex scene and our paramedics, both frontline and working in our Clinical Communications Centre, have done an outstanding job in very difficult circumstances.
“We will continue to support the operation and debrief with our frontline teams in the coming days.”
GeoNet agency said a moderate volcanic eruption had occurred and raised its alert level from two to four, on a scale where five represents a major eruption.
Police asked people to avoid areas on the North Island that were close to the eruption, including the Whakatane Heads and Muriwai Drive areas.
White Island sits about 50 kilometres offshore from mainland New Zealand.
Whakatane mayor Judy Turner confirmed the eruption produced injuries.
Geological hazard trackers GeoNet had registered moderate volcanic unrest on the island for weeks.
Whakaari is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, and frequently visited by tourists.
The local council says New Zealand Police and Bay of Plenty Civil Defence are working together to respond.
GeoNet says it is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano and about 70 per cent of the volcano is under the sea.
Those are some of the people put boat picked up. Praying for them and their recovery. Woman my mom tended to was in critical condition but seemed strong by the end.
— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019
The helicopters on the island looked destroyed: pic.twitter.com/jds5QBD1yg
Twelve people were killed on the island in 1914 when it was being mined for sulphur. Part of a crater wall collapsed and a landslide destroyed the miners’ village and the mine itself.
The remains of buildings from another mining enterprise in the 1920s are now a tourist attraction, according to GeoNet.
The island became a private scenic reserve in 1953, and daily tours allow more than 10,000 people to visit the volcano every year.
The island is also known by the indigenous Maori name Whakaari.
An AirNZ media spokeswoman said no flights were delayed or cancelled as a result of the eruption.
Anyone concerned about loved ones can call a 24-hour DFAT emergency number on 1300 555 135 from within Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.