A New Zealand volcano spewed a massive eruption of ash and steam while dozens of tourists were exploring the island Monday afternoon, and the site was still too dangerous hours later for police and rescuers to travel there to search for the missing.
One death was confirmed, and Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims said the number was likely to rise.
He said 23 people had been taken from the island, including those with injuries. He was unclear about the number who remained and were unaccounted for but said the total number of people on the island when it erupted was fewer than 50.
Tims said it was too dangerous for police and rescue services to travel to the island but they wanted to urgently get back as quickly as they could. He said there had been no contact with those who remained missing on the island.
He said both New Zealanders and overseas tourists were among those missing and injured.
Royal Caribbean International said guests from its cruise ship Ovation of the Seas had been visiting White Island.
“A number of our guests were touring the island today,” the company said “We will offer all possible assistance to our guests and local authorities. Please keep all those affected in your prayers.”
The company statement said the ship would remain there overnight until it learned more on the situation.
St John medical responders said earlier they believed there were 20 people on the island who were injured and in need of medical treatment.
“My god,” wrote Michael Schade on Twitter as he posted video of the eruption. “My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable.”
His video showed a wall of ash and steam around the island and a helicopter badly damaged and covered in ash. He said one woman was badly injured but seemed “strong” by the end.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was traveling to the region late Monday.
Ardern said at an afternoon news briefing that people who were injured in the eruption were being transported to shore. She said the incident appeared to be “very significant.”
“All our thoughts are with those affected,” she said.
Brad Scott, a volcanologist with GNS Science, said the eruption was significant and sent a plume of steam and ash about 12,000 feet (3,660 meters) into the air. He said it had also affected the whole of the White Island crater floor.
