White Island eruption: Dozens injured, some unaccounted for

A massive rescue operation is underway following an eruption on White Island at around 2.11pm Monday, that sent a plume of ash and steam 12,000 feet into the air. Around 100 people were on or around the island at the time of the explosion. At least 20 have been injured, seven of them are believed to be critical. As of 5pm, some people also remain unaccounted for. A mobile triage unit is on its way to the island. It will bring the injured back to shore where they will be transported to Whakatane Hospital. Geonet’s web cam on the island shows a number of people standing inside the crater just before the eruption. Commercial fisherman Dan Harvey is out at sea near Pukehina beach and he described to me what he saw. Lisa Owen talks to him, and to GNS volcanologist Geoff Kilgour.

White Island eruption: Dozens injured, some unaccounted for
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