New Zealand volcano eruption: no signs of life on White Island

Five people are dead and several Australians missing after a volcano exploded off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

A volcano has erupted off New Zealand's Whakaari, or White Island, killing at least five people. Picture: Supplied

Five people are dead and Australians are feared to be among at least 8 tourists missing after a volcano exploded off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island as passengers on a cruise liner looked on in horror.

Police warned more fatalities were expected, with helicopter crews ­on Monday night reporting no signs of life on White Island after the ­volcano erupted just after midday AEDT. “Based on the ­information we have, we do not believe there are any survivors on the island,” police said.

Scott Morrison described the eruption as a “terrible tragedy”.

The latest on the volcano eruption on Whakaari/White Island in NZ ⬇ pic.twitter.com/umcHb56ubW

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) December 9, 2019

Hours after the disaster, the site was still considered too dangerous for rescuers to search for the missing. But a pilot was able to land on the island and “no signs of life have been seen at any point,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. The missing and injured included New Zealanders and tourists from the U.S., China, Australia, Britain and Malaysia, the prime minister said.

Ms Ardern, speaking from the nearby town of Whakatane on Tuesday, has been in regular contact overnight with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief at this moment in time and in your sorrow,” Ms Ardern said. “Our duty is to return loved ones and ... there is much work to be done.”

READ MORE: Live coverage - First victim named | Tourists ‘stood on edge of crater’ | Seismic warnings of a pending disaster

There were 47 people on the ­island, about 40km off the coast in the Bay of Plenty, when the ­volcano erupted. Of those, 24 were Australians, many of whom were on a trip from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas.

An aerial view after the volcanic eruption. Picture: NZ Herald

Police ruled it was too dangerous to mount further rescue ­attempts. “Anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation,” they said in a statement. Eighteen people, including Australians, were on Monday night being treated for burns at mainland hospitals.

A person covered in ash arrives at Whakatane Airfield. Picture: Alan Gibson

A webcam on the island showed a group of tourists was inside the crater just before it erupted. The camera, which takes images every 10 minutes and is run by geological hazards agency GeoNet, showed people walking near the rim of the volcano, with smoke billowing out, in the hour before it erupted. Just before the eruption people could be seen walking away from the rim.

The final image appeared to show the camera was damaged in the eruption at 2.11pm local time.

Checked photo timestamps. Last photo from me standing on the land was 13:49; this first photo of the eruption was 14:12, about a minute or two into the eruption. pic.twitter.com/hyqQuO4vNq

— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019

Police said the five people who died were taken from the island, but it was unclear if they died on the island or later in hospital.

At 10pm on Monday, a website set up by the New Zealand Red Cross for families to register missing loved ones listed the names of 25 Australians.

“As part of the recovery a NZDF ship will approach the perimeter of the island at first light to deploy drones and observational equipment to further assess the environment,” police said.

Whakaari is a popular tourist attraction and is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano. Scientists had noted an increase in volcanic activity on the island over recent weeks, calling into question the decision to go ahead with tour groups visiting the volcano.

Ray Cas, a volcanology expert at Monash University’s School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, has visited White Island twice and told The Australian it had been “a disaster waiting to happen for many years”.

“White Island … experiences significant explosive eruptions every three to five years,” Emeritus Professor Cas said.

“It’s constantly in a state of ­unrest and to allow tourists to walk right to the edge of a very active volcano time and time again is ­unimaginably dangerous.”

Moments before tourists stepped out onto White Island on Monday afternoon the Volcanic Alert Level was at two, which signified “moderate to heightened volcanic unrest.”

“With a level like that, it’s obvious there is danger,” Professor Cas said.” But yet again not a great deal of attention was paid by tour operators to those elevated warnings.”

The Prime Minister warned that Australians could be among the dead. “Australians have been caught up in this terrible event and we are working to determine their wellbeing,” Mr Morrison said.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australia’s high commission in Wellington was making urgent inquiries with authorities to ascertain if any Australians were affected.

Former Whakatane mayor Tony Bonne said one of the people killed was an experienced guide for White Island Tours — “a young, energetic man who’s lost his life”.

White Island Tours’ website has been taken down and replaced with a message that says it is experiencing an emergency.

Tourist Michael Schade filmed the immediate aftermath of the eruption of the volcano from a boat. “Our whole tour group were literally standing at the edge of the main crater not 30 minutes before,” he wrote afterwards.

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. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable. #whiteisland pic.twitter.com/QJwWi12Tvt

— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019

pic.twitter.com/NcFiCWi2Yf

— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019

New Zealand Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims said those who had died were of a range of nationalities, but he wouldn’t comment further.

Mr Tims said experts had advised it was unsafe to return to 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 island is currently covered in ash and volcanic material.”