Whakaari/White Island: Victims battle burns, volcano simmers

Tuesday, 7 January 2020

Whakaari/White Island remains in an 'elevated state of unrest' following the eruption, according to GNS.

Burns victims continue to fight for their lives in New Zealand hospitals as the deadly Whakaari/White Island eruption's one month anniversary approaches.

Forty seven people were on the active volcano when it erupted on December 9, enveloping the island in scorching ash.

The official toll does not include Winona Langford and Hayden Marshall-Inman who are still missing, presumed dead, in the waters around the island.They are Kiwi tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, 40, and Australian tennager Winona Langford, 17.

Tour guides and travellers, including an entire family, from all over the world died following the fateful sightseeing trip.

Officially 17 people died although the official tally doesn't include two bodies yet to be found.

The volcano erupted with 47 people on the island, on December 9.

Recovery teams on Whakaari/White Island.

* Whakaari/White Island: Recovery mission in 'hands of the sea' say police

* Whakaari / White Island: Police admit bodies may never be found

* Whakaari/White Island: Brother of missing tour guide says 'time was of the essence'

* Whakaari/White Island: weather hampers search for missing bodies**

Thirteen patients remain in New Zealand hospitals, four of whom are in a critical condition, according to the Ministry of Health.

Eight patients, are being treated at Middlemore hospital, two are being treated at Waikato Hospital, two at Hutt Valley Hospital and one at Christchurch Hospital.

Another 13 patients were transferred to Australia.

Young White Island guides Jake Millbank and Kelsey Waghorn are among those being treated for severe burns. Millbank - who turned 19 on the day of the eruption - was awake and talking, his family told the Whakatane Beacon. His family thanked the rescuers, for their efforts in saving Millbank, along with others.

Kiwi tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman and 17-year-old Winona Langford remain missing, presumed lost to the sea.

Fellow tour guide Tipene Maangi was killed by the eruption, but his body was one of six recovered from the island by battle-hardened soldiers.

A rāhui placed on the island following the disaster has been lifted, but fishing and the collecting of kaimoana remains forbidden within one kilometre from the island.

Environmental contamination could make seafood unsafe to eat, according to MPI.

Whakatāne fishing charterer Mick Goodin, who owns of The Gambler Charters, said business had taken a big hit for those who specialise in fishing near the island.

'We can't get close to the island, so that's a bit of a nuisance.'

There was no news as to when the prohibition would be lifted.

Whakaari/White Island remains in an elevated state of unrest following the eruption, with the Volcanic Alert Level at Level 2, GNS science duty volcanologist Yannik Behr said.

While the likelihood of eruption remains unlikely over the next month, there's been a lot of movement in the crater walls and high levels of gas emitted.

'There's still very high gas coming out of these new vents that were partly created by the December 9th eruption,' Behr said. 'That's an indication that there's still shallow, hot magma present.

It was 'remarkable' that GNS instruments had survived and were still able to contribute data, while scientists couldn't access the data.

'They've survived the eruption and are still running and sending data continuously.

'We're happy that we still have a finger on the pulse there.'