Breaking: New Zealand police said they believed there were no survivors on the island as relatives list missing loved ones on a Red Cross register | Zhope10
"We have taken advice from GeoNet and they have assisted us with making a risk assessment that the island is unstable," he said.
Volcanic Air, which has been taking tours to the island since 1992, has confirmed that it had a helicopter on White Island at the time the volcano erupted, but said the five people on the aircraft had arrived back at Whakatāne.The TECT Rescue helicopter and the Waikato Westpac Helicopter have been sent to the island. A TECT spokeswoman said the helicopters hadn't arrived at the island yet "because it's so dangerous".
"We know that there were a number of tourists on or around the island at the time, both New Zealanders and visitors from overseas," she said. "I know there will be a huge amount of concern and anxiety for those who have loved ones on or around the island at the time." GNS monitoring equipment was still operating, and there had been a steady decline in activity since the eruption.
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