New Zealand volcano: Divers deployed to find last two missing bodies
- Published
The rescue team was equipped with high-level safety gear
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 Minister Jacinda Ardern said questions over why people were allowed to visit the active volcano "must be answered, and will be answered".
But she said "we also need to respect the phase we're in now, with families only just getting their loved ones back".
How did the recovery unfold?
On Friday morning, a "high-speed" retrieval to get the bodies was launched - even though the risk remained unchanged.
Going in, authorities knew the location of six of the missing and those bodies were airlifted off the island.
A team of eight specialists from the New Zealand Defence Force flew by helicopter to the island and spent four hours retrieving the bodies.
They were taken to a naval patrol boat and then brought back to the mainland.
The island remains covered in toxic ash
"Unfortunately the recovery option is not over as two people remain unaccounted for," Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement, external.
"We know at least one body is in the water and divers are currently attempting to recover this body.
"We are making every effort to locate and recover the two remaining deceased."
What was the danger?
Volcanologists warned that if the volcano erupted while they were on the island, the team could face magma, superheated steam, ash and rocks thrown at high speed.
GeoNet, New Zealand's geological hazard information site, said on Thursday, external there was a 50-60% chance of another eruption on Friday.
Mr Bush said it was a dangerous mission for those involved.
"The environment that those staff encountered was unpredictable, challenging and those staff showed absolute courage in order to ensure that those six people were returned to their loved ones."
The specialists from the New Zealand Defence Force who went to the island were kitted out with protective clothing and breathing apparatus.
During the operation, a geologist analysed real-time data to assess whether the mission needed to be aborted.
Two bodies are still missing on the island
Earlier on Friday, Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims paid tribute to the retrievers.
"I would like to acknowledge the recovery team for their efforts and the bravery they have shown today," he said.
He also offered his "thoughts and prayers" to families of those killed at what he described as a "tragic and harrowing time".
How were the others saved?
Of those on the island when the eruption happened, 24 were from Australia, nine from the US, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two from China, two from the UK, and one from Malaysia.
After the eruption, most of the visitors were taken off the island in dramatic rescue efforts.
Some tourist boats already on the way to the mainland turned back to take in those stranded.
Meanwhile, commercial pilots headed back to the island - as the eruption was ongoing - to look for survivors.
Many of those who made it off the island were severely injured and burnt.
"Toxic gases and ash": The BBC's Shaimaa Khalil flies around White Island