A number of tourists are unaccounted for and up to 20 require medical treatment following an eruption by New Zealand's Whakaari, or White Island, volcano.
The eruption of New Zealand's most active cone volcano, located east of Auckland and offshore in the Bay of Plenty, began at 12:11pm AEDT on Monday, sending huge amounts of white ash into the air.
Two hours later, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she had been briefed on a "very significant" issue evolving, saying some visitors to the island "are unaccounted for".
4ikaUhta_normal.jpgMetService ✔@MetService There has been an eruption on White Island, and our aviation meteorologists have issued a volcanic ash advisory for the area. Image from @gnsscience https://www.geonet.org.nz/volcano/cameras/whakatane …^AJ ELTx0qtUYAAPB6c?format=png&name=small 66 12:47 PM - Dec 9, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy
She said she had not been advised of any fatalities, however, one person was left in a critical condition.
Initial advice to Ms Ardern suggested around 100 people were on or around the island; New Zealand Police later revised that figure to fewer than 50.
Police confirmed one person has been critically injured.
The island is frequently visited by tourists as part of tours.
Geological hazard trackers GeoNet had registered moderate volcanic unrest on the island for weeks.
CivilDefenceCDlogo_normal.pngNational Emergency Management Agency ✔@NZcivildefence A volcanic eruption is occurring at White Island and is hazardous in the immediate vicinity of the volcano. 277 1:15 PM - Dec 9, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy
The White Island Crater Rim camera, held by GeoNet, showed a string of people visiting the crater at that time.
Subsequent shots from the camera, displayed online every 10 minutes, show the blast rendered the camera inoperable.
St John has dispatched seven helicopters to the island, believing "up to 20 people on the island" require assistance.
0Je7eQ-a_normal.jpgzurraspismo@Littlejon_81 Replying to @donnacha @geonet #whiteisland just erupted ten min ago. We was here at 13:151f628.png ELTvDD7VAAAo3Nl?format=jpg&name=small 106 12:32 PM - Dec 9, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy
Whakatane mayor Judy Turner confirmed the eruption produced injuries.
"There have been some people who were on the island at the time, who have had some injuries," she told Radio NZ.
"I'm not sure of the extent or nature of those injuries and that emergency services are all waiting for them to be returned from the island so they can attend to them."
Aviation meteorologists have issued an 'orange' volcanic ash advisory, which reflects the potential to affect nearby flights.
www.newshub.co.nz
Police have also advised nearby residents to be aware of the potential for ashfall from the eruption.
8OBdbmbp_normal.jpgthe Weatherboy@theWeatherboy We spent some time at volcanic #WhiteIsland, aka #Whakaari , where officials have now raised the Volcanic Alert to LEVEL 2 and Aviation Color Code to YELLOW. With SO2 emissions up, more activity may begin soon. @janinekrippner #Volcano #NewZealand D-Fd2XsVUAEXVSV?format=jpg&name=360x360D-Fd3YbU0AA2bJm?format=jpg&name=360x360D-Fd4D5UcAAVrK_?format=jpg&name=360x360D-Fd-sjUYAELxPz?format=jpg&name=360x360 8 4:43 AM - Jun 28, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy
The local council says New Zealand Police and Bay of Plenty Civil Defence are working together to respond.
By 3pm AEDT, GeoNet had reduced the alert level from four to three, noting a "steady decline in activity since the eruption".
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