New Zealand police defended delays in recovering bodies from the White Island volcano Wednesday, saying it would be "madness" to rush into a landing on the still-smouldering disaster zone. Police Minister Stuart Nash said he understood the frustration of family members who wanted their loved
Whakatane - New Zealand police defended delays in recovering bodies from the White Island volcano Wednesday, saying it would be"madness" to rush into a landing on the still-smouldering disaster zone.
Police Minister Stuart Nash said he understood the frustration of family members who wanted their loved ones' remains returned but said recovery teams had no choice but to wait. "It would be madness for us to send men and women across to White Island in a situation that was not safe for them," he told Radio New Zealand.
Police want to deploy drones to measure toxic gas levels in the island's atmosphere and determine whether it is safe to return, but windy conditions have so far prevented them from being flown. The ship had delayed its departure from nearby Tauranga in the wake of the disaster but set off for Wellington early Wednesday morning.
"There are still some very, very seriously injured people in hospital. We wish them the best but we're not out of the woods yet, of that there's no doubt," he said.
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