New Zealand volcano eruption: At least 5 dead

At least 5 people were reported dead after a volcano erupted in New Zealand's White Island on Monday, December 9, 2019.

White Island is one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes that experienced an erupting period from 1976-2000 while a second series of explosions started in 2011 and is still ongoing. The stratovolcano is located 50 kilometers off the coast of North Island and rises from the seafloor. Such volcanos are prone to brutal eruptions due to their magma composition that results in a rapid increase in gas pressures.

Despite being uninhabited, White Island is a popular tourist attraction and receives over 10,000 visitors annually. People have been visiting the site for decades despite it is considered active and prone to eruptions.

The volcano erupted at 2:11 p.m. local time, sending plumes of thick ash into the air. 47 people were on the island at the time of the eruption. At least 5 of them died, 8 are missing, 31 were hospitalized suffering severe burn injuries and 3 more were treated and released.

Police conducted flights over the island but they could not find any sign of survivors. Therefore, there is little chance of missing people being alive. “Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive were rescued at the time of the evacuation. Based on the information we have, we do not believe there are any survivors on the island," authorities stated.

Geoff Hopkins was visiting the Island with his daughter and was in a boat offshore at the time of the explosion. He said that the explosion was at first alluring but it quickly turned to be dreadful. He assisted and received many injured in his boat and stated that they had suffered severe burns even on their skin under their clothes.

A major question that arises is why people were allowed to visit the volcano, especially since the alert level on the Island was raised from 1 to 2 (out of 5) by the GeoNet agency. “These questions must be asked and they must be answered,” Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, stated in Parliament.

A criminal investigation will not be certainly launched, however, officials are conducting research on the casualties on behalf of the coroner. “To correct an earlier statement, it is too early to confirm whether there will also be a criminal investigation,” the police stated.

Click the video below to watch shocking footage from the volcano's eruption.