Sydney teen brothers confirmed dead after volcano tragedy but recovery mission hits a roadblock
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern was left almost lost for words as the official death toll from the White Island volcanic eruption rose to 16.
New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern has written a stirring post in the aftermath of the White Island volcano tragedy, saying “there are almost no words for the stories of both the aftermath and the loss that has followed”.
In an emotional Instagram post, Ms Ardern said New Zealand had experienced the most extraordinary tragedy — an eruption on Whakaari/White Island while guests from around the world were visiting.
“Lives were lost immediately, and in the days that have followed others have succumbed to their injuries,” she said.
“There are almost no words for the stories of both the aftermath and the loss that has followed. I want to pay tribute to the many people who did extraordinary things to save lives — whether it was through rescue efforts or the ongoing response by health professionals across the country.
“To the recovery team who made it their mission to bring loved ones back from the island, right through to the council, emergency management team who have supported the local community all the way through.
“To Ngāti Awa, for the outpouring of manaakitanga and support to all that have needed a safe haven during this time.
“Those who have been lost are now forever linked to New Zealand, and we will hold them close.”
She posted an image from a plane while travelling out to Whakatane, saying it was a beautiful outlook on a very sad day.
The police dive team will today resume their search for the last two bodies at White Island after a fruitless search by land and sea yesterday.
The official number of people who have died as a result of last Monday’s devastating eruption is now 16 after two more victims died in hospital at the weekend.
VICTIMS NAMED
The names of three more victims from last week’s volcanic disaster off the coast of New Zealand have been released but police reveal two bodies may never be recovered.
Sydney brothers Matthew Robert Hollander, 13, and Berend Lawrence Hollander, 16, were among those killed following the destructive eruption on White Island, according to officers.
The teens were both US citizens but permanent Australian residents, while the third was named 32-year-old Karla Michelle Mathews.
Earlier on Sunday, police officially named four victims from the December 9 incident.
Adelaide lawyer Gavin Dallow, 53, his step daughter Zoe Hosking, 15, as well as Sydney man Anthony Langford, 51, who had been on a cruise with his wife and two teenage children.
New Zealand tour guide Tipene Maangi, 24, was the last victim named.
The official death toll rose to 16 on Saturday when a yet to be identified man died in Sydney’s Concord Hospital.
The retrieval of six bodies on Friday in an audacious rescue mission had officials hopeful all would be recovered but a further two remain missing after a weekend of fruitless searches in the contaminated water around the active volcano, haunting police.
“While it is frustrating not to have located the remaining two bodies, I’d like to reiterate our commitment to doing all we can to provide a sense of closure to the grieving families,” New Zealand police deputy commissioner John Tims said from Wellington.
Fellow deputy commissioner Mike Clement, stationed in Whakatane, said the weekend had “been a blow for police”.
“Everyone went out there desperate to find the bodies … it’s been tough going for everybody,” he said.
“We understand completely how frustrating it is for loved ones who want the bodies back.” It is believed that at least one of the bodies belongs to an Australian.
Two patients remained at Concord Hospital in a critical condition and one patient has been upgraded to a stable condition.
Royal North Shore Hospital has two patients from the eruption in a stable condition and three are critical.
PAYNE TO VISIT SITE OF VOLCANO BLAST
Foreign Minister Marise Payne will travel to New Zealand in the wake of the country’s White Island volcano eruption.
Ms Payne will be in New Zealand from Monday until Wednesday and will meet with Ms Ardern, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters.
The meeting is to “express our deep appreciation for the professional and quick response of the New Zealand emergency and medical services and the care they have provided to Australian survivors of the eruption,” Ms Payne said in a statement on Sunday evening.
“Our hearts go out to all of the families and loved ones of those affected. “Australia thanks the New Zealand Defence Force members who returned to the site of the eruption to recover those who lost their lives, the New Zealand police for their ongoing close co-operation, and the many New Zealand medical professionals who have been involved in treating victims.
“We thank and acknowledge (the local tribe) Ngati Awa for the care and sensitivity they have shown to loved ones of the victims, at a time when they too are grieving.”
ACTIVE VENT EMITTING TOXIC “GLOW”
Experts have confirmed the volcano which erupted on White Island on Monday has been emitting a “glow” thanks to an active vent emitting toxic volcanic gas, warning a steam and gas plume may reach shore.
GeoNet, the Geological hazard information for New Zealand, confirmed on Sunday that overnight web camera images “recorded a glow from the vent area” and confirming “high heat flow is present from the active vent area”.
“This has been confirmed today by an aerial observation this morning that noted an active crater is emitting volcanic gas at a high rate and very high (> 200 °C) temperature,” it noted.
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Latest visual observations of the volcano confirmed magma is degassing at shallow depths and “the situation remains highly volatile”.
Some monitoring equipment was partially buried under ash after the eruption, and the batteries at one site have failed, affecting one of three cameras.
“We still receive data from the remaining equipment, which allows us to continue monitoring the volcano,” it noted.
It warned, “the steam and gas plume may also reach onshore and people may smell gas, depending on the prevailing wind direction” but said there was a low likelihood “of any potential ash fall affecting the mainland” should a moderate-large explosive ash eruption occur.
Today's Volcanic Alert Bulletin for Whakaari/White Island is now on our website. Volcanic tremor has dropped significantly and an aerial observation this morning confirmed the 'glow' visible at night, is from this active vent area circled below. Read more: https://t.co/iIuO8QgVOM pic.twitter.com/ADT1FPTjFD
— GeoNet (@geonet) December 14, 2019
AUSTRALIAN WOMAN FIRST VICTIM IDENTIFIED
The first victim from the White Island volcano eruption was identified as 21-year-old Australian woman Krystal Browitt yesterday afternoon.
Ms Browitt was on a family holiday to celebrate her birthday in New Zealand when she joined her older sister Stephanie and father Paul on a visit to the island.
Her mother Marie stayed behind on the boat, and has since been by the bedside of her daughter and husband who were both originally in a coma in a hospital burns unit following the eruption, according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family.
“It has been quite difficult,” a friend of the Browitt daughters, Tahlia West told AFP.
West remembered Krystal as “just a beautiful girl, very caring, very gentle”.
Of the 47 people on the island at the time of the eruption, it’s believed at least 18 have died.
New Zealand navy and police divers were back in the waters on Saturday around White Island searching for more victims after six were recovered on Friday, leaving two still missing.
With a 50 per cent chance of the volcano erupting again, the divers are searching for one body they believe is trapped in water close to the island.
— with AAP
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