Asia Pacific|New Zealand Volcano Still Too Dangerous for Rescue Crews, Officials Say
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WHAKATANE, New Zealand – Rescue workers on Wednesday were again forced to delay attempts to reach White Island to recover the bodies of people believed to have been killed ina volcanic eruption there. The authorities said conditions were still too dangerous and unpredictable to risk the attempt.
A volcanologist, Graham Leonard, said at a news conference that the chance of another eruption on the scale of Monday’s explosion happening within the next hours was between and percent. He added that for anyone traveling to the volcanic island now, even walking and breathing would be a challenge.
Dozens of people were rescued after the eruption Monday, but the authorities later said that eight people were still believed to be on the island and presumed dead. On Wednesday, the New Zealand police released a list of nine people who they said were officially considered missing, seven from Australia and two from New Zealand. The police would not explain the discrepancy.
Deputy Commissioner John Tims of the New Zealand police expressed frustration that recovery efforts had been delayed for a second day, but said the risks – including the hazards that toxic fumes could pose to rescue crews – outweighed the sense of urgency.
“My intent is absolutely to return to that island, those families and friends absolutely deserve closure and I’m going to work really hard to make that happen, ”he said.
White Island – also known by its Maori name, Whakaari – erupted on Monday afternoon as 60 people were touring the volcano’s crater. As of Wednesday, six people were confirmed to have been killed.
About victims of the eruption, which covered the island in gray ash, have been sent to seven hospitals around New Zealand, because the nearest hospital’s burns unit was completely overwhelmed. Most of the injured had burns over at least 40 percent of their bodies.
About two dozen of
***. Leonard, the volcanologist, said tremors on the island were escalating, increasing the chances of another eruption within the next day or so.
“There are two key risks,” he said. “The first is environmental – at times it will be challenging for breathing, walking and seeing on the island – and there are risks for another eruption.”
As of Wednesday afternoon , the GeoNet agency, which monitors geological activity in New Zealand, put White Island at threat level three, out of five. After the eruption on Monday, it was raised to four.
White Island has long been a popular tourist destination, billed as offering the chance to get close to an active volcano. Before this week, the deadliest incident there had been in 2019, when 10 miners were killed after part of a crater wall collapsed.
The island, which is privately owned, became a scenic reserve in 1953, and more than (******************************************************************************, ************************************************************************************* 0 people visit each year. Since Monday, victims’ family members and others have askedwhy tours had been allowed to continuedespite warnings that volcanic activity had been on the rise.
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