This archive report was first published on 11 December 2019.
Published on December 11, 2019, a New Zealand volcano eruption on White Island has claimed at least six lives, with eight more bodies believed to be trapped on the island.
The Ministry of Health reported that 22 survivors remain in critical condition in hospital burns units across the country.
Police Minister Stuart Nash explained that the severe injuries sustained by tourists and guides made it difficult for them to identify themselves.
"There are a number of people in hospital who cannot communicate, they have significant burns not only to skin but internal organs," Nash told Radio New Zealand.
Recovery teams are waiting for the situation to become safer before accessing the island, with seismologists predicting a 50% chance of another eruption.
Police hope to use drones to measure toxic gas levels and determine whether it is safe to return to the island.
With weather expected to deteriorate, pressure is building to begin the recovery operation.
