One Dead and 20 Injured in New Zealand Volcano Eruption

A powerful volcanic erupted on Monday in New Zealand’s White Island, spewing a plume of ash thousands of feet into the air.
Including one death, at least 23 people have already brought to the mainland on stretchers and covered in ash, but authorities cannot confirm how many people are still unaccounted for.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern initially said there were about 100 people on or around the island, some believed to be Australian, at the time of the eruption and not all were accounted for.
Police have since confirmed that number is closer to 50 and 23 people have so far been rescued, with most transferred to a hospital with burns. Some of the tourists were from a cruise ship.
‘While some have been transported to shore, others are still missing. Of those transported to shore, at least one has been critically injured,’ a spokesman said.

‘Emergency services are working to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including rescue staff.’ But they could not get onto the island because it was “too dangerous” and they have no communication with anyone on the island.
Dramatic footage of the eruption, which happened at Whakaari/White Island, just off New Zealand’s coastline, at about 2.15 pm local time on Monday, shows huge plumes of smoke and debris being blasted 12,000 kilometers into the sky.
Judy Turner, the mayor of Whakatāne – the seaside town closest to White Island – said there were people nearby at the time the volcano erupted, and some had been injured. She did not have further details.
St John Ambulance said that up to 20 people were believed to have been injured. Ambulance officers were traveling to the island with the coast guard and seven helicopters had also been dispatched with paramedics on board.
>Juthy Saha