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© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.5 dead, many more missing or injured after New Zealand volcano erupts
By NICK PERRY WELLINGTON, New Zealand©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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ArtistAtLarge
I hope the missing are found and alive.
nandakandamanda
Let’s hope that by some miracle those twenty or so hikers had enough warning and were able to get to shelter.
Haaa Nemui
Very risky place to visit. Very sad to hear about deaths though. Hope the fatalities are very limited.
More information.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118058738/live-white-island-erupts
Laguna
Pyroclastic flow is nasty stuff, moving at mind-boggling speeds snuffing everything in its path by heat and gas, and it often follows a course which leads to the most convenient area for ships to berth or people to live. I hope the remainder found shelter.
nandakandamanda
He (Michael Schade) told the BBC he was at the crater just 30 minutes before the eruption. "It was still safe-ish but they were trying to limit the group sizes [of people visiting the volcano]."
Ah, so the tour guides were to some extent aware that things were dodgy today.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50708727
goldorak
Yep. It beggars belief that Tour operator$ let the tourists on the island despite the recent volcanic activity. This needs to be fully investigated.
I can only hope the victims (at least 5) died quickly/instantly and didn't suffer knowing what was happening. rip
yoshisan88
Latest updates:
Deputy police commissioner John Tims confirmed tonight to reporters that five of the people rescued have died and the victims are of a “range of nationalities”.
MSR Japan
People who were going on tours to the island were made to sign a release knowing full well the dangers , the police are now saying that all those who were alive were evacuated, only ones who didnt get off the island were those who were already dead.
No living were lift behind .
juminRhee
Since the Maori spelling of "wh" is pronounced "f" in most dialects, its like they were trying to warn us. Sad.
nandakandamanda
People have always loved a whiff of danger, such as eating fugu blowfish, well knowing of the deadly poison the chef has hopefully removed.
Sometimes we sail too close to the wind.... and Nature pounces.
ZENJI
Level 3 alert: Possible risk of an eruption.
WHY WERE THEY THERE?
mike1492
New Zealand government doesn't care about lives I guess. Exclusion zone, ban people from going there?
juminRhee
I would say the cruise ship was firstly liable as it was published by the NZ govt. They'll have their starboards sued off by victims families.
juminRhee
It being the data. Sorry
Sh1mon M4sada
Same reason why people visit NZ and other interesting places.
Lets put it in perspective here. Yellowstone NP could go off any moment as well, yet thousands visit it every day.
The Whakaari/White Island tour is organised according to Geonet alert levels, often a geologist accompany tour groups and precautions such as gas mask are issued to all visitors. Lets not forget NZ's other world famous attractions are also active volcanoes, eg Tongariro crossing, Mt Ruapehu (yes thousands ski down an active volcano each winter, and hike it in summer.
My thoughts are with those who are missing, for the moment, let's not get into the blame game. Just know that the tour is well organised, and safety measures were in place.
Sh1mon M4sada
stern?