Experts have warned New Zealand’s Whakaari Island was “a disaster waiting to happen for many years'
An expert has warned New Zealand’s Whakaari Island was “a disaster waiting to happen for many years”, just hours after at least five people were killed on by a volcano eruption on the popular tourist spot. A number of Australians were caught up in the chaos.
“White Island has been a disaster waiting to happen for many years. Having visited it twice, I have always felt that it was too dangerous to allow the daily tour groups that visit the uninhabited island volcano by boat and helicopter,” he said. The site, also known as White Island, sat at a Volcanic Alert Level of 2 and was “regularly throwing mud and debris 20-30 metres into the air”,“Observations and data to date suggest that the volcano may be entering a period where the eruptive activity is more likely than normal,” it said.
A group of people can be seen on a GNS camera walking close to the crater just minutes before the eruption.The eruption, on the scale of things, was"a relatively minor event", Professor Wyman said.“Usually people don’t die from these kinds of eruptions, but that is likely because they are not usually inappropriately close."
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Whakaari volcano: Five dead, Australian tourists 'caught up in' deadly eruptionAustralians are among dozens of people caught up in New Zealand's volcanic eruption, which has killed least five people
Read more »
Recalls of deadly children's products spike as law fails to deter sellers: reportRecalls from the sale of potentially deadly products for children rose by 88 per cent between 2011 and 2017, with new research finding four-fifths were made in China | juliepower
Read more »
Tourists had 'very little' warning ahead of deadly volcanic eruptionA geology expert says there was very little warning of a volcano eruption on White Island, despite New Zealand authorities upgrading the volcanic alert level less than a month ago.
Read more »
Whakaari island 'a disaster waiting to happen for many years'Whakaari is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano and displayed signs of increased activity as recently as last week.
Read more »
Whakaari volcano: Five dead, Australian tourists 'caught up in' deadly eruptionAustralians are among dozens of people caught up in New Zealand's volcanic eruption, which has killed least five people
Read more »
NZ volcano eruption: What we know so farFive people are dead, several are injured and others are missing after the volcano New Zealand's Whakaari, or White Island, volcano erupted - here's what we know so far
Read more »