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Tremors At New Zealand Volcano Island Hinder Recovery Of Bodies

Increasing tremors on a volcanic island in New Zealand have hampered efforts by authorities to recover the bodies of eight people thought to be left on the island.
Flowers are seen at a memorial at the harbour in Whakatane, following the White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand, December 11, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
REUTERS
Flowers are seen at a memorial at the harbour in Whakatane, following the White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand, December 11, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

* Increase in tremor activity detected at White Island

* Recovery teams to assess island access

* Death toll 6, 8 still missing, 25 in critical condition

Increasing tremors on a volcanic island in New Zealand have hampered efforts by authorities to recover the bodies of eight people thought to be left on the island, two days after it erupted, engulfing dozens of tourists in steam and hot ash.

Six people were killed in Monday’s explosion at WhiteIsland, which lies some 50 km (30 miles) off the mainland, with another eight missing and presumed dead and 30 injured.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Reuters emergency officials were meeting on Wednesday morning to determine if a recovery effort could be launched.

“I’ve spoken to many of those involved in the operation and they are very, very eager to get back there, they want to bring people’s loved ones home,” Ardern said.

New Zealand's Prime minister Jacinda Ardern addresses the media following an eruption of the White Island volcano, in Whakatane, New Zealand, December 10, 2019. REUTERS/Charlotte Greenfield
Charlotte Greenfield / Reuters
New Zealand's Prime minister Jacinda Ardern addresses the media following an eruption of the White Island volcano, in Whakatane, New Zealand, December 10, 2019. REUTERS/Charlotte Greenfield

But a mid-morning update from geological agency GeoNet showed conditions on the uninhabited island remained dangerous, which would likely delay any recovery.

“Since around 4:00 am this morning the level of volcanic tremor has significantly increased at the island,” the agency said in a statement. “The situation remains highly uncertain as to future activity. Eruptions in the next 24 hours are still likely to occur.”

A plume of smoke could be seen coming from the island on Wednesday morning.

RISKS TO BE CONSIDERED

Police said the safety of recovery teams was the priority and are awaiting advice from experts on when they could access the island. That has prompted some criticism authorities are being too cautious.

“We cannot put other people in jeopardy to go out there until we’re absolutely certain that the island is actually safe,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Bruce Bird told a media conference in Whakatane, the town that is an access point for tourist trips to the island.

There were 47 people on White Island at the time of the eruption. Twenty-four of those were from Australia, nine from the United States, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two each from China and Britain and one from Malaysia.

Authorities said formal identification and post mortem of victims are underway.

Tour guides evacuate tourists on a boat shortly after the volcano eruption on White Island, New Zealand December 9, 2019 in this picture obtained from social media. @SCH/via REUTERS
@SCH via REUTERS
Tour guides evacuate tourists on a boat shortly after the volcano eruption on White Island, New Zealand December 9, 2019 in this picture obtained from social media. @SCH/via REUTERS

Aerial surveillance has detected no signs of life on the island, where at least one tour group was captured on automated webcams in the crater just a minute before the eruption.

Ardern said the primary focus was on caring for some 30people who were injured and were being treated for burns at several hospitals around the country.

Of the 30 injured, police said 25 are in a critical condition, and the other five were classed as stable but serious.

“Our absolute focus at the moment is ensuring we have the very best care for those who are injured,” Ardern said in an interview at her office in Wellington’s parliament, where the country’s flag was flying at half-mast to respect victims of the tragedy.

“I do understand that many have very critical injuries.”

The death toll from Monday’s eruption rose to six after one victim died in hospital on Tuesday.

One of the private helicopter operators who landed on the island after the eruption and carried survivors back to the mainland said he thought conditions had been favoUrable and a recovery operation could be completed in about 90 minutes.

Smoke from the volcanic eruption of Whakaari, also known as White Island, is pictured from a boat, New Zealand December 9, 2019 in this picture grab obtained from a social media video. INSTAGRAM @ALLESSANDROKAUFFMANN/via REUTERS
INSTAGRAM @ALLESSANDROKAUFFMANN
Smoke from the volcanic eruption of Whakaari, also known as White Island, is pictured from a boat, New Zealand December 9, 2019 in this picture grab obtained from a social media video. INSTAGRAM @ALLESSANDROKAUFFMANN/via REUTERS

“For us, it’s 20 minutes to get out there. We could load those folks on and be back here in an hour and a half,” pilotMark Law told the AM show on Three television.

“I know where they all are, and the conditions are perfect for recovery in my mind.”

Daily tours bring more than 10,000 visitors to the privately owned island every year, marketed as “the world’s most accessible active marine volcano.”

GeoNet raised the alert level for the volcano in November because of an increase in volcanic activity. The alert level was increased further after the eruption, and remains elevated.

By Charlotte Greenfield.

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