A volcano about 50kms off the coast of the Bay of Plenty has had a bit of an eruption. When we travel to see the ma in law in Gisborne we can us usually see a steam cloud above it. Generally seen as a vent so when its steaming we think its all good.
Lot of tourists go there, you can look right into the crater. Amazing place. I've been out there fishing around it. Stinky sulphur smell too.
Reports are saying its a bit more serious.
Hope everyone is OK.
Just seen the news here too
Hope you chaps are ok
97 kms away from where l live so am not affected.
Seems there were nearly 50 tourists on the island. More than 20 are not accounted for.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Monday, 09 December 2019, 03:42 PM
97 kms away from where l live so am not affected.Seems there were nearly 50 tourists on the island. More than 20 are not accounted for.
The news here are confused - the little banners at the bottom of the TV are alternating between
"Jacinda Ahern says there were around 100 tourists on the island"
and
"50 people on the island".
One can only assume that 50 of the tourists were sheep? :confused1:
In any event let's hope people are found alive and well, the poor buggers.
Not much to graze on there Vlad.
They are saying up to 50 were on the lsland. 23 are accounted for, one of which was a fatality. The cops are saying they now have no communication with anyone on the island.
Some are off a cruise boat berthed in Tauranga that was to leave this evening but is now delayed waiting for news of passengers caught up in the eruption.
Not good Kiwi news. One fatal and more to come radio just said. Has that one ever erupted before?
Yes, has erupted before, usually just rumbles along with steam etc. Reports are saying it's an Australian tourist that's confirmed dead. If the rest are still there, there wouldn't be much hope of survival in that environment sadly. Will see how it pans out
Quote from: grog on Monday, 09 December 2019, 04:38 PM
Not good Kiwi news. One fatal and more to come radio just said. Has that one ever erupted before?
Yeah mate, That thing erupts all the time. There was a big'un in 1919 that killed 10 miners. Another big'un in '23, no fatalities but it put an end to sulphur mining.
It's full of volcanic activity. Lahars, fumaroles, Crater Lakes, Ash Spouts, bubbling mud, lava flows, the works.
Oddly enough, also home to a bloody great gannett colony. Used to have a Pohutakawa forrest until a series of eruptions in '81-'83 wrecked the joint.
Also "home" to the most exclusive chapter of the Business Round Table. White Island Roundtable. Only 25-30 members.
Quote from: KiwiCol on Monday, 09 December 2019, 05:41 PM
Yes, has erupted before, usually just rumbles along with steam etc. Reports are saying it's an Australian tourist that's confirmed dead. If the rest are still there, there wouldn't be much hope of survival in that environment sadly. Will see how it pans out
Can only hope everthing is being done to get the people not accounted for off the island. l would hate to find another Pike River Mine scenario playing out.
The below was at 3.25 this afternoon. No further updates that I can see.
- Whakaari / White Island has erupted at 2.11pm
- Police confirmed there was at least one death and they expect there to be more
- Fewer than 50 people were on or near the island at the time, police say - down from earlier estimates of about 100
- 23 people have been rescued from the island, including one who died, leaving up to 27 still there
- St John Ambulance said at least 20 were injured, seven critically, with burns the main injury
- GNS Science warned shortly after the eruption the vicinity is dangerous
- The public has been urged by police to avoid Whakatāne Heads and Muriwai Drive, which is closed
- Ashfall is not expected to reach the mainland in large quantities, GNS Science says
Lets hope they can find the 27 alive and well :bugga:
From what I've read the tourists were actually in the crater at the time it erupted and reports suggest it was a major steam eruption rather than magma.
BBC news now suggested at least 5 have perished - terrible
People say to me all the time you're crazy riding bikes on the street. That is how I'm thinking about people crawling over an active Volcano. It's tragic what has happened although I'm pretty sure they would have been aware of the risks. :confused1:
Latest reports from using thermal imaging (although I wonder how the hell that works on a white hot volcano) is that there is no sign of life at all. If that really is the case, then it's one heck of a tragedy.
Very sad that this has become a tragedy. Five confirmed deaths with eight still missing. Fourty seven people were on the lsland. There were two groups out there, one group very close to the eruption.
Some brave helicopter pilots took off and went straight out to rescue as many as they could. Thank god they got on with it before anyone told them it was too dangerous. l tip my hat to those guys.
We were told one boat came back with half a metre of ash covering it.
A very sad day.
Very sad indeed.
Bloody oath those helo pilots are brave, volcanic ash is NOT conducive to powered flight...
Yep apparently there was one group who had not long left the crater and another inside.
QuoteFive people are confirmed dead after a volcano erupted twice on New Zealand's White Island, with almost a dozen Australian tourists still unaccounted for.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed 24 Australians were visiting the island "as part of a cruise ship tour". He said 13 have been hospitalised and the remaining 11 are still unaccounted for.
Many of the victims are tourists from Australia, the UK, China, Malaysia and the US.
New Zealand Police say there are no further signs of life on the island, following flyovers late on Monday.
It is still unclear when emergency services will be able to access the island and start recovering bodies, with police waiting for the all-clear before going in.
more https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/white-island-volcano-eruption-police-believe-no-survivors-on-new-zealand-island/live-coverage/b5dce1c793d1791841f1cb0ba12b4e65
Eight victims remain on White Island with conditions deemed too dangerous to recover them at this time.
Never slow to react, Workplace Health and Safety have launched an enquiry and the Police have launched a criminal investigation.
l wonder if they find that sightseeing tours to an active volcano can be hazardous to your health.
Today l spoke with people l play tennis with that have visited White Island and they say its a truly amazing place...... thats why people visit.
We are now hearing on the news that red tape is stopping the recovery of the victims. Tour guides and chopper pilots are saying they would go back there now and have the bodies recovered in fifteen minutes. They know where they are, they moved some of the victims to higher ground yesterday, out of an acid stream thinking they would be going straight back out to get them.
We have also had a couple of earthquakes fairly close by.
Just so sad. Not sure why go into a volcano but each to their own.
Quote from: grog on Tuesday, 10 December 2019, 05:21 PM
Just so sad. Not sure why go into a volcano but each to their own.
Probably for much the same reason we ride motorcycles.
latest update on this, also posted in the H&S thread
www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/emotional-letter-pilot-asks-pm-if-he-can-retrieve-brothers-body-from-white-island/ar-AAK0GTs?ocid=spartandhp
Bloody jobsworth mongrels involved now.
Would it not be easier/safer to go in on a boat :confused1:
l am embarrassed that in the eyes of the world we sit back and do nothing for those left on White Island. We were not told the people still there had all been moved by the chopper pilots and first responders to make them easier to recover. The pilots are straining at the leash to recover them but stopped by pen pushers.
l see a similarity to the situation at the Pike River Mine explosion that cost the lives of 29 men. The Police stopped their workmates going back into the mine to attempt a rescue. They waited nearly a week for the mine to blow again then stood back and said "we told you it would happen" years on that tragedy continues.
We are supposed to be doers not watchers.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Thursday, 12 December 2019, 05:37 AM
l am embarrassed that in the eyes of the world we sit back and do nothing for those left on White Island. We were not told the people still there had all been moved by the chopper pilots and first responders to make them easier to recover. The pilots are straining at the leash to recover them but stopped by pen pushers.
l see a similarity to the situation at the Pike River Mine explosion that cost the lives of 29 men. The Police stopped their workmates going back into the mine to attempt a rescue. They waited nearly a week for the mine to blow again then stood back and said "we told you it would happen" years on that tragedy continues.
We are supposed to be doers not watchers.
Don't be embarrassed Col - we can all see and understand that. the safety of the rescue people is paramount :bugga:
Quote from: KiwiCol on Thursday, 12 December 2019, 02:40 AM
latest update on this, also posted in the H&S thread
www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/emotional-letter-pilot-asks-pm-if-he-can-retrieve-brothers-body-from-white-island/ar-AAK0GTs?ocid=spartandhp
Bloody jobsworth mongrels involved now.
You really have to feel for that poor Pilot. How frustrating and gut wrenching would that be :furious:
It's on BBC News this morning that police have now sanctioned a rescue mission on Friday morning and that they know where 6 of the bodies are.
The chopper pilot Mark Law that was interviewed on TV and said he would have the job done in 90 minutes was added to the panel making the decision when to go.
He is former SAS so would be better qualified than most to assess risk.
Hope they can get it done today for everyone waiting for their loved ones.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Friday, 13 December 2019, 02:39 AM
The chopper pilot Mark Law that was interviewed on TV and said he would have the job done in 90 minutes was added to the panel making the decision when to go.
He is former SAS so would be better qualified than most to assess risk.
Hope they can get it done today for everyone waiting for their loved ones.
SAS - speaks volumes - "can do attitude". Good luck to 'em
Latest news is the mission went ahead and 6 bodies recovered. No mention of the remains 2 though.
About an hour ago they took 6 bodies off, and are looking for another 2.
Have said divers are on the Island searching for the remaining two.
Divers ?
Do they think they were on or near the jetty at the time?
I'm thinking they thought "I'm buggered if I stay here, nothing else for it, gonna swim." Hell of a choice.
Quote from: VladTepes on Friday, 13 December 2019, 04:08 PM
Divers ?
Do they think they were on or near the jetty at the time?
According to BBC news they know that one body is in the water, the other they believe may be in the water. But surely tides and currents would have carried them - if they are - some way away?