A ninth Australian is confirmed to have died in the New Zealand volcanic eruption as police divers search for more bodies in waters off White Island.
Melbourne woman Krystal Browitt has been confirmed as the ninth Australian to have died in the New Zealand volcanic eruption as divers continue to search for two bodies near White Island.It takes the official death toll to nine, with a presumptive toll of 16.Nine Australians are confirmed dead, two are presumed to have died and 13 are in hospital with severe burns.
The deceased recovered from Whakaari / White Island have been taken to Auckland for the post mortem and disaster identification process. An internationally approved process for disaster management identification is being followed.Meanwhile, police and navy divers dealt with low visibility and dead fish in contaminated waters off the volcanic island in their attempt to find a seventh and eighth body.
Police divers prepare to search the waters near White Island off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand.Police have vowed to continue their search until all eight bodies have been recovered. "We've got enough evidence to justify deploying that dive squad and the navy dive squad this afternoon.""We know that we've got two bodies missing," Mr Clement continued.
The seventh body was sighted in the water in the aftermath of the blast but unreachable due to swells.Divers, who saw the dead sea creatures on the water's surface and onshore, required specialised protective equipment and decontamination with fresh water each time they surfaced. Deputy Commissioner John Tims, the Wellington-based operations commander, warned anxious families and loved ones that the"process is stringent and can take some time".
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