Australia’s Smartraveller website, run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was yesterday directing travellers affected by the volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s White Island, along with their friends and relatives, to New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency website.
The website, run by the NZ Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, can be accessed here.
Three Australians are believed to be among six people confirmed dead after an eruption engulfed tourists on the island. The volcanic explosion sent out a superheated blast-wave of steam, gas and other material at supersonic speed, blasting a smoke plume about 4km into the air.
The people visiting White Island on Monday afternoon when the volcano erupted are reported to have been tourists and tour guides from Australia, Britain, China and Malaysia, along with New Zealanders.
Questions are being asked about the wisdom of visiting active volcanoes.
An ABC report this morning said:
- 47 people were on the island when it erupted.
- Six are known to have died.
- Three of them are believed to be Australians.
- Eight other people, all Australians, are still missing.
- 31 people are being treated in hospital. Three more have been treated and released.
- 13 of the hospital patients are Australians.
- The only identified fatality so far is a New Zealand tour guide.
Forty-seven tourists – many from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship – and guides were visiting the island when the volcano erupted on Monday afternoon.
NZ Police are preparing a search and rescue operation but, as of this morning, authorities consider it too dangerous to land on the island, because of the strong likelihood of another eruption and the presence of deadly gases.
The NZ Police Eagle helicopter, rescue helicopters, and NZ Defence Force aircraft have made several aerial reconnaissance flights over the island since the eruption.
NZ Police confirmed yesterday that as well as the five people confirmed dead, eight people remain unaccounted for following the eruption.
Police drones are said to show bodies on the island.
Thirty-one patients are currently being treated at seven hospitals for specialist care. Three patients have been treated and discharged. Some of the others are very severely or critically injured.
Anyone from Australia wishing to submit information regarding family or loved ones who might have been visiting White Island during the eruption should call NZ Police on +64 49 105 105.
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