White Island witnesses describe horror of seeing eruption

Tourist Michael Schade stood at the crater of White Island’s volcano minutes before it erupted. Now he’s shared his terrifying experience.

Tourist Michael Schade stood at the crater of New Zealand’s White Island volcano minutes before it erupted and has shared his terrifying experience in a series of messages and videos posted on social media.

“My God, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001. My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it,” he tweeted on Monday.

“Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable.”

At least five people were killed when the volcano erupted apparently without warning off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. There are fears there will no other survivors among those still unaccounted for.

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In video Mr Schade posted on Twitter as he sped away from the island in a boat, a huge plume of white ash soars into the sky as a group of frightened tourists huddle close to the shore.

A helicopter parked nearby on the island looks crumpled and covered in ash.

“Those are some of the people (our) boat picked up. Praying for them and their recovery. Woman my mom tended to was in critical condition but seemed strong by the end,” Mr Schade tweeted.

“The helicopters on the island looked destroyed.”

Mr Schade describes himself in his Twitter handle as someone who likes “helping people, photography, reading, gym, travelling, and learning new things”. He says he lives in San Francisco.

“This is so hard to believe. Our whole tour group were literally standing at the edge of the main crater not 30 minutes before,” he tweeted.

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Some tourists were on the edge of the crater 30 minutes before the eruption. Picture: Maxar Technologies via AP.

“My thoughts (are) with the families of those currently unaccounted for, the people recovering now, and especially the rescue workers.”

He also praised tour operators who helped tend to people in the minutes after the eruption.

“Endless gratitude to that crew for stepping up as first responders,” he wrote.

A Queensland mother on-board the cruise ship claimed passengers were not warned of “how really dangerous” it was to visit the volcano.

Lisa Lou wrote on Facebook that she felt like not enough warning was given to those who booked a trip to the volcanic island.

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Some passengers on the cruise ship said they were not warned how dangerous the island could be.

“I’m mad because these poor people booked the shore excursion … nowhere does it say how really dangerous this shore excursion is,” she said.

“I’m angry that the tour still went ahead even though the risk level was at the highest it could get, and I’m angry that there are fellow Royal Caribbean cruisers who’s family won’t be coming back on-board.

“I’m just shell shocked, I’m devastated and I’m scared for the over 22 passengers who are stuck on that island. Still as I type, it’s too unsafe to rescue them, if they haven’t already perished.

“(I’m) angry at Royal Caribbean and the tour organiser for taking innocent tourists, some who probably didn’t even speak English, on a tour into a volcano at the highest warning level before an eruption.”

Other passengers who also remain on-board the liner have described the ship’s atmosphere as “strange” and “solemn”.