NZ emergency agency cleared over deadly volcano eruption

"NEMA did not carry out any work physically on Whakaari, it did not send workers to Whakaari, it never placed any person on Whakaari," he said.

Perhaps they SHOULD have...

Act of god.

I've stood on the edge of a few volcanoes. It is clear they aren't safe places. Before entering, we all signed a no liability form which was pretty clear. If anything bad happens, you are responsible for yourself.

There are dangers all over the world. Went down into a glacier crevasse only held by a thick rope and 2 other people. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I knew it could collapse and I'd be dead ... along with those 2 other people (probably). There was much melt that day.

Nobody can guarantee the safety everywhere. It just isn't possible.

Last I checked, Earthquakes and volcano prediction weren't at the level of tornado predictions ... and tornado prediction really only works 5 minutes before they are formed. We aren't getting off a volcano or out of any Earthquake zone with 5 minutes notice.

Perhaps they SHOULD have.

Why? It was clearly too dangerous a place for people to be. In fact it would have been a violation of the Health and Safety Work Act to post employees in such a dangerous place. Liability lies with the tour operator.