New Zealand volcano eruption: Two British women among those injured as police say ‘no sign of life’ on White Island
Around 50 people were on island in Bay of Plenty when explosion happened
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Two British women are among those injured by a volcanic eruption in New Zealand, which has left at least five people dead and 31 in hospital with several still missing.
There are also five people with a UK birthplace marked missing on a Red Cross list of missing persons, which is updated by the public rather than officials.
The UK’s high commissioner to New Zealand, Laura Clarke, said she and her colleagues were supporting the two women’s families and would do the same for “any other Brits who need our help”.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said 47 people were estimated to be on White Island, in the Bay of Plenty, when the volcano blasted a huge plume of ash and steam into the air on Monday.
Police said that despite spotting “some people” on the island in daring aerial reconnaissance efforts since the blast, rescuers saw “no signs of life” at any point.
Official enquiries with tour companies suggest eight people are still unacounted for. Deputy commissioner John Tims told reporters rescue efforts would resume once conditions improve.
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Brad Scott, a volcanologist with research group GNS Science, said the eruption sent a plume of steam and ash about 12,000 feet (3,660 meters) into the air. He said it had also affected the whole of the White Island crater floor.
The GeoNet agency, which monitors volcanoes and earthquakes in New Zealand, at first raised its alert level to four, on a scale where five represents a major eruption. It later dropped the alert level back down to three. Mr Scott said that was because the eruption was not sustained beyond the initial blast.
Today's explosion was the first fatal eruption on White Island since 1914, when twelve people were killed when the island was being mined for sulfur.
Part of a crater wall collapsed and a landslide destroyed the miners' village and the mine itself.
A webcam set up on White Island shows at least one group of tourists were inside the crater moments before it erupted.
A crater rim camera owned and operated by New Zealand geological hazards agency GeoNet shows groups of people walking near the rim inside the crater, where white smoke constantly billows at a low level, in the hour leading up to the eruption at 2.11pm. The camera captures and posts images online every 10 minutes.
At 2.00pm the crater rim camera catches a group of people - tiny specks in relation to the vast volcano - right at the edge of the rim (GNS Science via Reuters)
At 2.10pm - just a minute before the eruption - the group is headed away from the rim, following a well-worn track across the crater (GNS Science via Reuters)It is unclear whether the group, which appears to be made up of around a dozen people, were alerted to flee or were continuing a tour, unaware of the looming danger.
Australia's prime minister, Scott Morrison, said he had offered his New Zealand counterpart his support.
"Australians have been caught up in this terrible event and we are working to determine their wellbeing," Mr Morrison tweeted.
Twenty-four Australians were on White Isand when the volcano erupted, Australian media said.
Already people are questioning why tourists were still able to visit the island after scientists recently noted an uptick in volcanic activity.
GeoNet raised the alert level on White Island from one to two on 18 November, noting an increase in the amount of sulfur dioxide gas, which originates from magma deep in the volcano.
It also said at the time that over the previous weeks, the volcanic tremor had increased from weak to moderate strength.
Mr Scott, the volcanologist with research group GNS Science, said the alert level was often raised and then later dropped again without any eruption.
He said there had not been any major incidents with tourists visiting the island in the past, although there had been some close calls.
Mr Scott said it was not for him to say whether the island was safe enough to host tourists immediately before Monday's eruption.
The eruption was unexpected, but not unusual, an expert has said.
"Sudden, unheralded eruptions from volcanoes such as White Island can be expected at any time," Shane Cronin, a volcanologist at University of Auckland, said in comments published by the Australia Science Media Centre.
"We know hydrothermal and so-called 'phreatic' eruptions can occur suddenly and with little or no warning because they are driven by the expansion of super-heated water into steam," he added.
More fatalities are expected on White Island, otherwise known by its Maori name Whakaari.
Ms Ardern, New Zealand's prime minister, said the focus remained on the search and rescue mission for now and questions about whether tourists should be visiting would be addressed later.
"We know that there were a number of tourists on or around the island at the time, both New Zealanders and visitors from overseas," she told a news conference.
"I know there will be a huge amount of concern and anxiety for those who had loved ones on or around the island at the time. I can assure them that police are doing everything they can."
Combination photo shows Whakaari, also known as White Island, volcano shortly before and after eruption (GNS Science via REUTERS)
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