White Island Eruption Leaves 1 Lost Life, 27 Missing Person Reports

A volcanic eruption in New Zealand had claimed a life and left at least 27 people reported missing.

Known as the country's most active volcano, Whakaari has erupted on Monday early afternoon, sending a huge cloud of ash and affecting at least 50 island visitors.

An American tourist, Michael Schade, told BBC that he was at the crater just a few minutes before the eruption. Then, when he was riding on a boat that was leaving the island after the morning tour ended, someone pointed the ash piling up from the volcano. He said it was an experience that will be "hard to believe."

But the boat he was in returned to the island and rescued as many people as they can. One of them, which his mom tended to, is among to those who are in critical condition.

A touring party of at least 38 people from the Ovation of the Seas also has not yet returned, according to Kevin O'Sullivan, the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Cruise Association.

The Rescue Mission

At least 23 people were rescued from the island, said John Tims, the deputy commissioner of district operations, on a press conference in Wellington. Twenty of these are injured, with seven in critical conditions and are receiving medical assistance from the hospitals in Tauranga and Auckland.

At least 20 tourists, both local and foreigner, were still stranded on the island.

Tims also reported that someone died, and there are some "unaccounted for" who remained on the island.

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of the country, said that she has coordinated with the ministry of foreign affairs to confirm who are those "unaccounted for", including both locals and foreign nationals.

Ardern also claimed that rescue teams were already deployed, but due to the risk of another eruption and unstable island condition caused by toxic gases and ashes, the party cannot proceed to the island.

Australia has offered emergency support due to some Australians being "caught up" in this disaster, said Australian prime minister Scott Morrison.

A helicopter owned by the Rotorua-based tour company Volcanic Air got damaged by the eruption. Fortunately, all of the five passengers, including the pilot, were unharmed and had safely left the island via boat.

The Highly Active Volcano

Six days before the eruption, geological hazard monitoring website GeoNet warned the public that Whakaari could possibly become more active than normal. However, the website also said that it will not pose a direct hazard to visitors.

Jan Lindsay, an associate professor at the University of Auckland, said that the volcano has a "persistently active" hydrothermal system which could suddenly erupt if gases underground build-up. She also claimed that the recent disaster could possibly be just a steam eruption -- which does not involve magma.

White Island has erupted several times over the years. Yet it did not stop the tourist from visiting the island. At least 10,000 visitors still come to the island yearly.