rescue workers can not reach the deaths from Monday’s eruptions. In all, nine reported missing.
the Activity on the volcanic island of White Island in New Zealand is increased, and it slows the work to remove the people who are supposed to have perished on the island after Monday’s eruptions.
It informs the authorities at a press conference late Wednesday afternoon local time.
– the Environment on the island has changed. Since this morning, the activity increased, so right now we are faced with standby, said deputy police commissioner John Tims at the press conference.
– as soon As we are sure that there is no risk, we turn back, he says of the work with the salvage.
Six people have already confirmed dead.
At a subsequent press conference, the police have revised upwards the number of persons who are reported missing, from eight to nine. There are seven australians and two from New Zealand.
– This is not a complete list of missing, since we have not had the opportunity to speak with all the relatives, writes the police in a communication.
in Addition, there are 30 injuries. 25 of these are in critical condition with burns on over 70 percent of the body.
Graham Leonard, a volcanic geologist at research institute GNS Science in New Zealand, tells Wednesday afternoon that there are between 40 and 60 percent likelihood of a new eruption within the next 24 hours.
– yesterday, there was a high risk of an outbreak. Today, there is an even greater risk.
And at the moment deteriorating the parameters, he says to the attending journalists in Wellington.
the Police report that redningsarbejdernes security has the highest priority.
It happens, after the authorities have been criticised for not doing enough to find the missing, already on Tuesday were presumed dead.
– We can’t put other people in danger. We have to wait until the island is safe, says deputy police commissioner Bruce Bird at a press conference in the city of Whakatane.
There have been at least 47 people on White Island, which lies 50 kilometres off New Zealand’s pacific, since the volcano erupted on Monday afternoon local time.
Including four tourists from Germany, two from the united kingdom, 24 from Australia, nine from the UNITED states, two from China and one from Malaysia.
Among the six, confirmed dead, is an australian mother and her 20-year-old daughter as well as a local guide from New Zealand.
/ritzau/Reuters
