New footage has emerged revealing the horrifying magnitude of Whakaari’s eruption, as one fatality is confirmed.
My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001. My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable. #whiteisland pic.twitter.com/QJwWi12Tvt
— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019
Although there were initial fears that up to 100 people were on the island, that number has now been reduced to fewer than 50.
— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019
“I can confirm there is one fatality,” New Zealand Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims stated at a press conference, “and based on information we have, there is likely to be more.”
The New Zealand Herald reports that Whakaari erupted around 2.15pm local time.
According to GeoNet director Ken Gledhill, the possibility of a secondary eruption is something that cannot be ruled out. “We can’t be certain there won’t be another volcanic eruption in the next 24 hours,” he stated, via Bloomberg.
Emergency services are continuing their efforts to ensure the safety of those who remain on the island.
