White Island Volcano

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[Chrisl]

Just seen the news here too
Hope you chaps are ok

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[VladTepes]

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? 


In any event let's hope people are found alive and well, the poor buggers.

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[grog]

Not good Kiwi news. One fatal and more to come radio just said. Has that one ever erupted before?

[KiwiCol]

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

[Taniwha]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[KiwiCol]

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

[Notty]

Lets hope they can find the 27 alive and well 

[gsxbarmy]

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

[GSXKING]

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. 

[gsxbarmy]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

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.