Heroism, devastation after volcano eruption

Whakatane, December 10

Tales of heroism, devastation and horrifying injuries have emerged after New Zealand’s smouldering White Island volcano exploded, killing an estimated 14 people and turning what should have been an intrepid day trip into a nightmare.

The number of confirmed fatalities rose to six Tuesday night after an injured person died in an Auckland hospital, police said. Dozens of others injured were being treated in hospital burns units across the country.

Among the 47 people caught on the island during the sudden blast were tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China, Germany and Malaysia, as well as local tour guides. As relatives of the missing faced an agonising wait to discover the fate of their loved ones, police said conditions remained too dangerous for recovery teams to set foot on the volcano.

Amid questions about how tourists were allowed on the island, police said they were opening an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and injuries — but they backtracked on suggestions it could lead to criminal charges.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern praised the crews of four rescue helicopters for landing on the island soon after the eruption. Intensive care paramedic Russell Clark was among those dispatched by helicopter to the volcano, which sits semi-submerged 50 km (30 miles) out to sea. “It was like… I’ve seen the ‘Chernobyl’ mini-series and it was just everything was just blanketed in ash,” he said.

Top New Zealand health official Pete Watson said 27 of the 34 survivors were being treated for burns to more than 71 percent of their bodies.

“To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief and in your sorrow,” the PM said. — AFP