2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption
The volcanic island Whakaari, also called White Island, explosively erupted in New Zealand's northeastern Bay of Plenty region on 9 December 2019 at 2:11 pm NZDT.[1] There were 47 people on or near the island at the time. The amount of people killed is currently 22, including 2 people that went missing and are believed to be dead. 25 people were injured, many critically.[2][3]
Events
White Island is a popular tourist attraction. In the days leading up to the eruption, the volcano on White Island became more unstable, causing an earthquake at one point.[4] Although the volcano's alert level increased, tours of White Island continued.[5]
When the volcano erupted, it sent rock, volcanic ash, and super-hot gas 3.7 kilometres (12,000 feet) into the air. This hot gas burned the people on the island, causing deaths and injuries.[6] The type of eruption was a phreatic eruption, where water heated by magma turns into steam and causes an explosion.[7]
After the eruption
WorkSafe New Zealand, New Zealand's primary workplace safety organization, launched an investigation into the disaster alongside New Zealand police.[8] WorkSafe New Zealand later charged 3 people (the owners of White Island) and 10 organizations.[9]
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that "the scale of this tragedy is devastating".[1]
2019 Whakaari / White Island Eruption Media
Ovation of the Seas anchored off Picton on 13 December 2019, four days after the eruption.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Live: White Island erupting: Plumes of smoke, reports of multiple injuries in Bay of Plenty". New Zealand Herald. 9 December 2019. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12292240. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ↑ "Live: Whakaari / White Island eruption - day 2". Radio New Zealand. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ↑ "Live updates: 'Further survivors unlikely' after White Island eruption, police say" (in en-NZ). TVNZ. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/live-updates-further-survivors-unlikely-after-white-island-eruption-police-say. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ↑ "A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 50 km north-west of Te Kaha, New Zealand on Sun Nov 24 2019 5:34 AM. The quake was 115 kilometres deep and the shaking was moderate close to the quake". www.geonet.org.nz. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ↑ Sabin, Brook (10 December 2019). "Whakaari/White Island eruption: Why were tours still operating?". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ↑ Wade, Amelia (9 December 2019). "White Island eruption: First responder tells of horror 'everyone was horrifically burnt'". The New Zealand Herald. . https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12292461. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ↑ "The science of the White Island eruption: A catastrophic burst of steam". Stuff. 10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ↑ New Zealand volcano eruption on White Island leaves three Australians believed dead, eight more still missing. 10 December 2019. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-10/new-zealand-volcano-eruption-white-island-australian-victims/11782860. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ↑ Robson, Sarah (26 August 2021). "All Whakaari defendants plead not guilty to charges laid by WorkSafe after deadly eruption". Radio New Zealand. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/450065/all-whakaari-defendants-plead-not-guilty-to-charges-laid-by-worksafe-after-deadly-eruption. Retrieved 26 August 2021.