Guest essay by Eric Worrall
A large volcano has erupted in New Zealand, causing 20 injuries and at least 5 deaths. Some people remain unaccounted for. At least one US tourist was in the vicinity. The eruption occurred at White Island, part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which includes the Taupo Supervolcano.
Up to 20 people are injured with some fighting for life after a volcano erupts off the New Zealand coast – as terrifying video shows the moment it exploded in front of tour boat passengers and ash-covered survivor is seen receiving treatment
- White Island, 48km from the Bay of Plenty region, began erupting about 2.15pm
- Thick, white plumes of smoke are filling the sky around the New Zealand island
- Up to 20 people are believed to be injured, while others aren’t accounted for
- Ovation of the Seas passengers are believed to be some of the people on island
By BRITTANY CHAIN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 12:38 AEDT, 9 December 2019 | UPDATED: 16:23 AEDT, 9 December 2019
Up to 20 tourists have been injured – some critically – after a huge volcano erupted off the coast of New Zealand while they were climbing inside its crater.
Dramatic footage of the eruption, which happened at Whakaari/White Island, just off New Zealand’s coastline, at about 2.15pm local time on Monday, shows huge plumes of smoke and debris being blasted kilometres into the sky.
A group of tourists were pictured deep inside the crater just moments before the blast while others heading on a boat to the island were rushed inside as thick, grey smoked billowed towards them.
A man with an American accent could be heard saying in the clip: ‘We’ve got to get out of here’.
…
Read more (includes videos): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7770695/Volcano-erupts-coast-New-Zealand.html
Let us hope everyone who survived this eruption recovers from their injuries, and the unaccounted people are found safe and alive.
The eruption at White Island seems fairly small, so far only one fatality reported. People who were actually inside the caldera when the volcano erupted appear to have survived.
But the Taupo Volcano Zone is one of the most active regions in the world. Although the peak which erupted only rises 1053ft above sea level, the bulk of the volcano is submerged beneath the waters; White Island rises 5,249 ft above the nearby sea floor.
No doubt volcanologists are busy assessing the implications of this latest disturbance.
The Guardian is providing live updates.
Darwin Award Winners unite!
The authorities (the government ) do own the island. Just stop paying the land rates for the home and land you ”own” and then see who really owns it.
The island looks like a turtle.
Damn fool Kiwis even think that Americans have an accent.
It’s not an Island ! First and foremost it is a volcano and should be treated as one . There should have been blast shelters available mid crater (basically where they were all caught . And no “waiting at the jetty ” business , on and off the island immediately !
Is this an attempt at humor?
They have not even recovered the dead bodies yet.
It is generally considered to be tactless and in bad taste to joke about events in which people being killed and horribly injured, at least until the dead are recovered.