Here’s a summary of what we know so far about the volcanic eruption on Whakaari/White Island in New Zealand.
Five people are confirmed to have died in the eruption, eight are missing and presumed dead. You can see our full report here.
Three of the dead were confirmed to be Australian by the country’s prime minister, Scott Morrison.
The family of New Zealand man Hayden Marshall-Inman, a guide for White Island tours, confirmed his death to local media, but police have not confirmed it.
31 people are being treated for burns, 27 of whom have burns to 30% of their bodies. Patients are aged 13-72.
Police said they are conducting an investigation into the deaths on behalf of the coroner, correcting an earlier police statement that they were launching a criminal investigation.
The 47 people on the island at the time of the eruption include 24 people from Australia, nine from US, two Britons, four from Germany, five from New Zealand, two from China and one from Malaysia. You can read our full report on those listed as missing here.
The New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, told parliament: “The scale of this tragedy is devastating. Our hearts go out to the families of those who are injured, missing or deceased.”
Laura Clarke, the UK’s high commissioner to New Zealand, said two British women had been taken to hospital and that her team were providing assistance.
The Whakaari/White Island owners have expressed their condolences to those affected by Monday’s eruption. The Trust, which owns the island, is managed by Whakaari Management Limited which comprises three directors who are also brothers: James Buttle, Andrew Buttle and Peter Buttle.
Peter Buttle issued a statement saying his family had owned the island for over 80 years and are devastated by the tragic event.
We are all shocked by what has occurred on Whakaari yesterday and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
We wish to thank everyone involved in the rescue effort, including the first responders, medical personnel and the locals who helped evacuate people from the island. Their efforts have been both courageous and extraordinary.
That we now have had a tragic event with devastating consequences leaves us absolutely heartbroken. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected, as well as the wider Whakatāne community.
The Chinese embassy in New Zealand has posted an updated on its website on the two Chinese citizens affected by the eruption on White Island. It said that according to New Zealand police, two Chinese citizens had been near the site of the eruption. The consulate said that by late afternoon it had been notified by New Zealand’s ministry of foreign affairs and trade police that one of the citizens had been injured and sent to hospital. The embassy said it has sent consular officials to the hospital. It has also requested New Zealand officials to provide information about the second citizen’s situation as soon as possible.
New Zealand police have issued a statement clarifying the investigation into the deaths on White Island. Earlier, deputy commissioner John Tims, said police would conduct a criminal investigation. However, a correction has been issued:
At this time Police is (sic) investigating the death of the individuals on Whakaari / White Island 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 investigation on behalf of the Coroner will be carried out in parallel with a WorkSafe New Zealand investigation.
WorkSafe New Zealand has opened a health and safety investigation into the harm and loss of life caused by the eruption.
As the workplace health and safety regulator and administrator of the Adventure Activities Regulations, WorkSafe will be investigating and considering all of the relevant work health and safety issues surrounding this tragic event.
Ovation of the Seas to remain in Tauranga on Tuesday night
Passengers on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship will spend another night in the Port of Tauranga. It’s now expected to leave at 7.15am on Wednesday, according to the New Zealand Herald.
Flowers are laid on makeshift memorial is seen in front of cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, in Tauranga, New Zealand. Photograph: Nick Perry/AP
New Zealand’s GeoNet has just launched another update on the volcano. It says seismic activity remained weak and there had been no further eruptive activity.
However GeoNet said they weree continuing to see “gas-driven jetting from the active vent area”. It said its monitoring equipment continued to work well, despite some sites being covered in ash.
Over the next 24 hours we still estimate an equal likelihood of either no eruption or a smaller/similar sized eruption that would impact the main crater floor, based on our observations and measurements. There is a high level of uncertainty associated with this estimate and we are working to reduce that uncertainty. We also estimate the least likely scenario is a larger eruption. There is an extremely low likelihood of any ash impact to the mainland, but people may smell gas, depending on the prevailing wind direction.
This photo taken on 9 December shows the view from a rescue helicopter of the ash and debris covering White Island volcano. Photograph: HANDOUT/Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust/AFP via Getty Images
If you are just joining us on our coverage of the volcanic eruption in New Zealand, you can get yourself up to date quickly with our guide to what we know so far.
A man places a bouquet to a fence on the waterfront in Whakatane, New Zealand, following Monday’s volcanic eruption. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP
The mayor of Whakatāne, Judy Turner, has held a press conference in the small coastal town this afternoon during which she said she “welcomed” the criminal investigation into the disaster and hoped no stone would be left unturned, as everyone wanted reassurance that nothing “untoward” had taken place
“It’s a natural question that comes out of the event, I don’t think there’s anything particular that is of concern,” she said.
“We do feel your pain, and we’re here to support you,” Turner added of the families gathering in town to mourn their loved ones, or wait for their bodies to be returned.
The mayor said she continued to support tours of White Island in the future, but first questions needed to be answered as to who, if anyone, was responsible for the disaster, seh said, and if tourists should have been on the island when a level-2 threat was present.
The mayor of Whakatāne, Judy Turner, welcomed the investigation into the circumstances of the deaths on White Island. Photograph: David Rowland/EPA
“At the time they went out it was a level 2, and in the matrix of things that is not considered a high reading ... they have been out numerous times at that level.”
Turner acknowledged that White Island tours had offered tourists “an amazing adventure tourism opportunity” and had been running for 30 years without any problems.
“You’ll be aware that tourism is significant for our local area. We are aware there are questions and you can be assured ... that at the appropriate time we will answer the questions that need to be asked.”
Turner said police were working around the clock to get the remaining bodies off the Island, and boats had been stationed 1km off the coast of the island, from which drones had been launched on reconnaissance missions to monitor when it would be safe for police to land.
When bodies were able to be retrieved, they would first be flown to Whakatane airport which was being prepared today, and then to the offices of the coroner in Auckland, she said.
Turner added that while the local Iwi, Ngati Awa, had been showing “aroha” to those affected, she had not yet spoken to the tribe’s elders.
I’m just catching up with a few other points from that news conference. John Tims from NZ police said that authorities had been working today to determine the conditions on the island.
“This will be done by a drone able to carry specialised measuring equipment. This requires a boat getting into, within 1km of the island, in order to launch the drones. We are hoping to do this today. Unfortunately, we have had one attempt, the conditions have been against us and it’s been too windy. We will continue to do so today if weather permits,” Tims said.
With regards to the foreign nationals affected by the volcanic eruption in New Zealand, a team of three officials from the NZ department of foreign affairs and trade has been deployed to Whakatane to support diplomatic missions of affected foreign nationals.
In terms of the condition on the island currently, civil defence spokesperson, Sarah Stuart-Black, said: “Monitoring equipment on the island is still functional and providing near real-time data. GNS science will continue to closely monitor the situation on White Island. The web cameras indicate gas and steam jetting from the active vent area.”
Health authorities in New Zealand have contacted burns units in Australia to ask what capacity they have to take on patients, Guardian Australia understands. Protocol for treating disaster victims is for them to be treated at the hospital closest to their home, in anticipation of a long recovery period.
That press conference has just wrapped up. Here’s a summary of the most important points:
New Zealand police have launched a criminal investigation into the disaster on White Island.
Five people are confirmed dead and their bodies have been transferred to Auckland for a post mortem to be carried out.
31 patients are being treated for burns, including 27 who have burns to at least 30% of their bodies.
Patients have been transferred to burns units across New Zealand and some may be transferred to Australia.
There has been a decline in seismic activity on the island but scientists estimate there’s a 50% chance of a smaller or similar sized eruption over the next 24hours, which means a 50% chance of no eruption. It’s estimated that a large eruption is unlikely at this time.
John Tims of NZ police was asked about whether the investigation would focus on the tour operators to the island:
“So we’ll look into if there was anyone criminally responsible for the deaths and injuries. It’s early days yet. So we’re just going to have to work through the evidence, talk to people, and conduct the investigation,” Tims said.
“Not all of the (burns) patients will survive,” Watson said.
“There’s many who have suffered inhalation injuries, damage to lungs, so they’re requiring airway support. At this stage, that’s the majority of the people who are in the hospitals,” Watson said.
Of the 31 people injured, 25 are now in our four regional burns units located in Christchurch, Hutt valley, Waikato and Middlemore hospital, Watson said.
“They will be transferred to one of our regional burns units as soon as there’s capacity. All our burns units are full to capacity. Our plastic surgeons, hospitals, anaesthetists are doing their best to treat the many who have sustained injuries.”
