Why were tourists on the Whakaari volcano?

Private tour operators and authorities are facing questions about why tourism is allowed on New Zealand's most active volcano.

An image provided by visitor Michael Schade shows White Island (Whakaari) volcano, as it erupts. Source: EPA/MICHAEL SCHADE

In the aftermath of the deadly eruption on New Zealand's White Island, questions are being raised about why tourists were allowed on an active volcano that has been monitored closely for years.

Six people are dead and eight people - including New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, Britain, the US, China and Malaysia - are unaccounted for and presumed dead after the eruption of the Whakaari volcano.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said "there will be questions asked, that need to be answered ... by the appropriate authorities... it's an unpredictable live volcano".

Read more here.

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