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No luck in search for remaining bodies on New Zealand volcano
WELLINGTON, Dec 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Search teams returned to New
Zealand’s volcanic White Island on Sunday but there was no sign of two bodies
still unaccounted for after last week’s eruption, as police released the
names of four more victims.
Of the 47 people on the island — a popular tourist attraction — when the
explosion took place, the death toll stands at 17 including the missing pair.
It is now believed the two may be in the sea, although divers searching
the contaminated waters around the island on Saturday failed to locate one
body seen floating in the area several days ago.
“The rescue teams are frustrated. We understand completely how frustrating
it is for loved ones who want the bodies back,” deputy police commissioner
Mike Clement said when the land search party of eight police officers
returned to the mainland.
He said there was “every chance” both corpses were in the water but the
divers were “satisfied that the area we searched near the jetty is clear of
the bodies”.
There are 27 survivors in New Zealand and Australian hospitals, of which
20 are fighting for their lives after the eruption of the desolate island,
which is the country’s most active volcano.
The police on Sunday officially identified four victims, including New
Zealand tour guide Tipene James Te Rangi Ataahua Maangi, 24.
The other three — all Australians — were Zoe Ella Hosking, 15, and her
stepfather Gavin Brian Dallow, 53, as well as 51-year-old Anthony James
Langford.
Clement said although the land and sea searches had so far been
unsuccessful in finding the remaining bodies, police had not given up hope.
“There will come a time when we’ve done everything we can do, when we’ve
done everything that’s sensible but we’re not there yet… we don’t give up
easily,” he said.
Scientists monitoring White Island said there had been no further
significant activity since last Monday’s eruption but the risk remained.
A glow was visible from the vent area overnight “which confirms there is a
high heat flow present,” said Geoff Kilgour, a volcanologist with GNS
Science, which monitors seismic and volcanic activity in New Zealand.
“This has been confirmed today by an aerial observation this morning that
noted an active crater is emitting volcanic gas at a high rate and very high
temperature” above 200 Celsius (392F).
The disaster has raised questions about why tourists were allowed on a
volcano where experts had recently raised threat levels.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 0812 hrs