A criminal investigation will be launched into the eruption of a volcano in New Zealand which killed at least five and injured dozens, police said.
The investigation will focus on the circumstances of the deaths and injuries of the people after the eruption on White Island on Monday afternoon, New Zealand Police’s deputy commissioner John Tims said.
He added that Work Safe New Zealand has opened a health and safety investigation into the eruption on the privately owned island – alsoknown by its Maori name Whakaari– which attracts more than (******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************, ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** visitors a year.
A week before the eruption the island’s volcanic activity level was increased to level two, which is deemed safe for tours to operate.
Dep Comm Tims confirmed five people have died, are in hospital, three have been discharged from hospital and eight people are missing “presumed dead” after the volcano suddenly spewed plumes of smoke and debris 3, (m) 12, (ft).
Those who are injured range in age from (to) , with many suffering severe burns meaning there is a possibility not all will survive, doctors warned.
Authorities have not yet managed to get onto the island – which is (miles) 055 km) from the North Island’s east coast – as it is still a “highly volatile environment” but a number of helicopters were sent over on Monday and they believe they saw six bodies covered in ash.
Dep Comm Tims said: “We strongly believe nobody has survived on the island – based on people who went to the island yesterday and rescued a number of people, and could not see anyone alive.”
Providing the nationalities of all people, he said two are from the UK –two women who are in hospital– four are from Germany, from Australia, five from New Zealand, two from China, one from Malaysia and nine from the US .
Dr Peter Watson, clinical director at Counties Manukau District Health Board, said of the (people injured,
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Image: Tour guides went back to the island to try to rescue people. Pic: Twitter / @sch
He warned “it is possible not all patients will survive” their “very severe injuries”, with many suffering from inhalation burns requiring airway support.
Dr Watson said 25 injured people are in Wellington’s four regional burns units, while six people have been transferred to Auckland and two of them are to be transferred to Auckland burns units.
“All burns units are full,” he said.
He added the units have dealt with the number of injuries they would deal with in a year, in just one day.
Seriously injured Australian citizens, who were all visiting from a cruise ship , will be flown to burns units in Australia soon so they can be near their families and homes, Dr Watson added.
Police tried to send a drone over the island earlier on Tuesday to capture gases so they can assess the safety of the island but it was too windy, so they will try again.
White Island is one of the country most active volcanoes and was named because of its rising smoke plumes after Captain James Cook discovered it in (************************************************************.
**** Image: Video shows a helicopter on the ground, damaged from the ash cloud. Pic: Twitter / @Sch
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