Summary

  • Six people are dead and eight are still missing on White Island after Monday's eruption

  • Police say they 'strongly suggest' the missing eight are also dead

  • The first victim has been named as White Island tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman

  • Police said there would be a criminal investigation - but then rowed back

  • 27 people have suffered burns to more than 30% of their bodies

  • 24 of the 47 people on the island were from Australia

  • Others were from New Zealand, Germany, the US, the UK, China and Malaysia

  1. Tourism on White Islandpublished at 07:18 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    An estimated 10,000 people visit White Island, or Whakaari, each year according to Newshub.

    Vessels often dock on the eastern side of the island and tourists walk from the beach to the centre of the active volcano where they then stand on the crater's edge. Here are some visitors that have made the journey to the island over the years.

    But there are now some expressing concerns about the wisdom of active volcano tourism - albeit others saying it could be managed safely.

    Tourists explore White Island on July 9, 2019 in WhakataneImage source, Getty Images
    Tourists explore White Island on July 9, 2019 in Whakatane,Image source, Getty Images
  2. White Island: The view from the baypublished at 07:14 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Smoke was still rising from the White Island volcano on Tuesday, a day after the eruption.

    Media caption,

    White Island: The view from the bay

  3. 'Explore an active volcano'published at 07:13 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    This was the image that greeted tourists before they embarked on the boat to White Island:

    White Island Tours craft are pictured on the Whakatane wharf on December 10, 2019Image source, Getty Images
  4. 'It was like Chernobyl'published at 07:08 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    A paramedic who flew to help victims of the eruption said on Tuesday that White Island resembled the recent TV series "Chernobyl".

    "Everything was just blanketed in ash. It was quite an overwhelming feeling," Russell Clark said.

    Media caption,

    New Zealand volcano: 'It was like the Chernobyl mini-series'

  5. Volcano victim used to 'pay it forward'published at 07:03 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    The first named victim of the eruption, Hayden Marshall-Inman, used to leave $5 at his local supermarket in Ohope Beach, New Zealand, for other people's shopping.

    The New Zealand Herald has picked up a Facebook post from the supermarket's owners, external.

    "Hayden is close to our hearts," said Claire and Arron Blair.

    "Every week, he left $5 at the counter to pay for the next person. This has been happening for years so there will be many recipients of his kindness."

    Hayden Marshall-InmanImage source, Facebook
  6. Statement from the island's ownerspublished at 06:58 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Local media are widely quoting a statement put out by the island's owners the Whakaari Management Ltd. In it they say: "We are all shocked by what has occurred on Whakaari yesterday and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy."

    The volcano is unusual for being privately owned. Decades ago the government tried to buy it from the Buttle family, but in the end reached an agreement that the site would become a scenic reserve.

  7. Island had an 'emergency shelter'published at 06:31 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    White Island had a shipping container designed to be used as an emergency shelter in case of volcanic eruption, New Zealand website Stuff is reporting, external.

    The six-metre container was taken to the island by the military three years ago, external - but it's not clear if anyone reached it on Monday.

    White Island Flights operations manager George Walker said: "It's right at the end by the rocks and I used to say to people on the flight, I wonder about the logic of putting it there."

    The container being lowered onto White Island in 2016Image source, NZDF
    Image caption,

    The container being lowered onto White Island in 2016

  8. The Ovation of the Seas - passengers are in mourningpublished at 06:31 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    It was meant to be just another cruise journey around New Zealand.

    But for some on the Ovation of the Seas - it would turn out to be anything but.

    The Royal Caribbean cruise ship had been docked at Tauranga, a coastal city near White Island.

    Many of the ship's passengers were on board when the captain announced that several from the ship had made the trip to White Island - and were there when it erupted.

    The ship was supposed to have set sail for the city of Wellington, but has stayed at Tauranga since news of the eruption, while police carry out investigations.

    Passengers gathered at their balconies early on Tuesday as a minute's silence was held, according to ABC journalist Donna Field.

    Passengers were later allowed to disembark the ship, with some local tourist operators offering them free rides. But one visitor said they were in no mood to be on vacation.

    "It's a weird feeling, you feel like you shouldn't be enjoying yourself. It's very sad," the passenger told news site Stuff.

    Ovation of the Seas cruise shipImage source, Getty Images
  9. Police: There may not be a criminal investigationpublished at 06:17 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019
    Breaking

    New Zealand Police have corrected an earlier statement - and now say there may not be a criminal investigation into the White Island volcano eruption.

    The new statement said, external: "Police can also confirm we have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and injuries on Whakaari / White Island.

    "The terms of reference will be developed in the coming days.

    "At this time police is 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."

  10. Aunts fear for missing nephewpublished at 06:04 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    The aunts of missing 23-year-old tour guide Tipene Maangi are still hoping their nephew is found safe and sound. "He's a wonderful boy," one said.

    Media caption,

    NZ volcano: Aunts fear for missing nephew

  11. 'Bees were very active'published at 05:56 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    US tourist Michael Schade, who was on the island just 30 minutes before the eruption, said there were no warning - but he did notice that the bees on the island were "very active".

    "The only weird thing was that the bees were very active... there were a fair number of them. One of them stung my mum," he told the BBC yesterday.

  12. Steam and gas still jetting outpublished at 05:37 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    GeoNet, New Zealand's geological hazard information site, says that "periodic steam and gas" is still coming out from the active vent area on the volcano.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  13. Here's what you may have missedpublished at 05:21 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    If you're just tuning in to our coverage now, here are some things you may have missed:

    • A criminal investigation has been launched into the death and injuries on White Island
    • Five people have died and eight are still missing, but police say it is unlikely they have survived
    • Police have confirmed the nationalities of the 47 people who were on the island at the time of the eruption. Visitors came from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, Malaysia, the US and Germany
    • 27 people that have burns to more than 30% of their bodies are now in hospital receiving care. Several others are also suffering from inhalation burns
    • There is a 50% chance that an eruption of the same size or smaller could happen in the next 24 hours.
    Smoke and ash rises from a volcano on White IslandImage source, Getty Images
  14. Malaysian man among the deadpublished at 05:18 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    One Malaysian is confirmed to be among the dead. The High Commission of Malaysia says it will provide further updates. Little more is known about this victim.

    Sorry, we're having trouble displaying this content.View original content on Facebook
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Facebook content may contain adverts.
  15. Tours have been running for yearspublished at 05:14 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    The mayor of Whakatane Judy Turner has sent her condolences to the victims, but added that the tours of White Island have had a clean record for years.

    In a press conference on Tuesday, she said the tours have been "running for ... [nearly] 30 years" . She added that she had been on their tours personally in the past and had been "impressed".

  16. NZ Police: A criminal investigation will beginpublished at 05:14 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    New Zealand Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims says there will be a criminal investigation into the White Island eruption, which is feared to have killed 13 people:

    Media caption,

    NZ Police: Criminal investigation will begin

  17. They were 'so massively burnt'published at 05:01 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Father and daughter Lillani and Geoff Hopkins were on a tour boat when they saw the eruption.

    Their boat immediately turned back, rushing to pull people from the water - many of whom were ash-covered victims who had run into the sea.

    Geoff, who is trained in first aid, said some "drifted in and out of consciousness" as he tried to tell them everything was ok.

    "They were just so massively burnt. People were in shorts and T-shirts so there was a lot of exposed skin. Their faces were massively burnt," he told the NZ Herald.

    "But there were also huge burns under clothes... when you cut them off.. I've never seen blisters like that.", external

  18. The latest on White Island - from geohazard agencypublished at 04:52 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    GeoNet - New Zealand's geological hazard information site - has just put together some key facts about White Island. , external

    It confirms the island as New Zealand's most active volcano and says it is indeed characterised by explosive eruptions which "occur with little-to-no warning, and often impact the Main Crater floor area".

    It points out that the volcano was in almost continuous eruption from 1976 to 2000.

    ScreengrabImage source, GEONET
  19. 'He was first back on the island'published at 04:46 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    One of the tales of heroism from yesterday's eruption has come from Rick Pollock on the Pursuit Fishing Charters page., external

    He said his friend Paul Kingi, a local tour guide and skipper, returned to the island during the eruption to help people escape.

    "Having left the island only minutes before the eruption he was the first back on, rescuing and assisting numerous injured back onto the waiting boats," the post said.

    "He went back again and again, ignoring the toxic environment and personal risk, until he was satisfied there were no more obvious survivors remaining.

    "This superhuman effort doesn’t surprise me in the least as I’ve seen this fine man in action on numerous occasions, always controlling a bad situation."

  20. Sydney family missingpublished at 04:45 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    A family of four from Sydney are among those unaccounted for. They have been named by Australian media as Anthony and Kristine Langford and their children Jesse, 19, and Winona, 17.

    "We don't know anything at all,” Mr Langford’s brother, Rodney, told local network Seven. “I hope that anyone who knows anything, who sees my brother or his wife or his kids, can notify the media and they can notify us."

    A post by Ms Langford on social media last week appears to show the family before they left Sydney. It was tagged “Ovation of the Seas” – the name of the cruise ship – and included a happy birthday message to Mr Langford.

    This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Instagram
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip instagram post

    Allow Instagram content?

    This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of instagram post