Zealand | Common News Update

Dec132019 by adminNo Comments

New Zealand volcano: Divers deployed to find last two missing bodies

New Zealand police deployed divers to look for two bodies near White Island volcano, after six bodies were retrieved in a recovery operation. The volcano erupted on Monday with 47 people there. Eight people were missing on the island, presumed dead. Another eight have already been confirmed dead and around 20 remain in intensive care with severe burns. The retrieval on Friday was launched despite the risk of another eruption. The search for the two remaining bodies will continue on Saturday morning, police said. The recovery of the bodies from White Island, also known by its Maori name of Whakaari, was delayed over safety concerns for the members of any search operation.Speaking to reporters after the bodies were retrieved, Prime...

Dec122019 by adminNo Comments

New Zealand volcano: Police to attempt recovery of bodies Friday despite increasing probability of eruption

World

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- New Zealand Police said they are finalizing a plan to recover the bodies of eight people on Friday morning from White Island despite worsening conditions on the volcanic island and an increasing probability of a second eruption. Deputy police commissioner John Tims said in a statement read by Civil Defence Emergency Management Director Sarah Stuart Black during a press conference that he was briefing families on the plan Thursday afternoon. GNS volcanologists Graham Leonard said the status of the island known locally as Whakaari was uncertain, volatile and worsening with the probability of a second eruption within the next 24 hours increasing from 40-60 percent for Wednesday to 50-60 percent on Thursday as there is an ongoing and increasing tremor. "Today is less safe th...

Dec102019 by adminNo Comments

New Zealand volcano: Rescuer tells of ‘Chernobyl’-like scene

World

Media playback is unsupported on your device A paramedic who flew to New Zealand's White Island to rescue tourists after Monday's volcanic eruption has said the scene was like something out of "the Chernobyl mini-series"."Everything was blanketed in ash," Russell Clark told TVNZ.Dozens of tourists were on the island at the time. Six have been confirmed dead. Eight others are feared to have died and about 30 have serious burns.New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern praised the crews of four rescue helicopters."Those pilots made an incredibly brave decision under extraordinarily dangerous circumstances in an attempt to get people out," she told reporters on Tuesday."To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief and in...

Dec92019 by adminNo Comments

New Zealand volcano: Five dead and eight missing after eruption

World

Media playback is unsupported on your device New Zealand police have confirmed that five people have died and eight are missing after White Island volcano erupted on Monday as tourists visited. Thirty-four people survived, with 31 still receiving treatment in hospital. Two British women were among those receiving treatment, said the UK High Commissioner to New Zealand, Laura Clarke.Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he "feared" three of the five confirmed dead were Australian.Mr Morrison said that 24 Australians were on board a cruise ship exploring the island in the Bay of Plenty when the volcano erupted. Of those, 13 people had been hospitalised and 11 were unaccounted for, he said."This is a terrible tragedy, a time of great innocence and joy...

Dec92019 by adminNo Comments

New Zealand volcano erupts: Five killed and several tourists missing

World

By Alison Chung, Alix Culbertson and Chris Robertson, news reporters At least five people have died after a volcano erupted in New Zealand.Police say the number of people who are unaccounted for following the eruption on White Island is in double figures - but the rescue operation has been suspended because it is too dangerous to search the area. Approximately 50 people, New Zealanders and foreign tourists among them, were feared to have been nearby when the eruption happened at 2.11pm local time on Monday (1.11am UK time). Image: The GeoNet agency said a moderate volcanic eruption had occurred at around 2.11pm. Pic: GeoNet Image: A we...