New Zealand Natural Disaster : 5 Dead and many mising

Best Khabar Team | २०७६ भाद्र २६ गते बिहिबार

09, Dec, 2019
New Zealand, At least five people have died and many are missing following an eruption that released ash 12,000 feet above the tourist destination New Zealand. Fewer than 50 visitors were on or near White Island, which is also known as Whakaari, at the time of the eruption, and 23 people have been rescued so far, New Zealand Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims said at a media briefing. Among those transported to shore, many had burn injuries, Tims said. He didn’t know how many are still unaccounted for, estimating that figure to be in the “double digits.”

The American couple were rushed to a hospital with severe burn injuries, Barham said, but their families have since heard no updates about their condition.

New Zealand authorities, who have been conducting aerial searches, say they no longer expect any of the missing visitors to be found alive.

“No signs of life have been seen at any point,” according to a statement the police issued shortly after midnight Tuesday local time. “Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation. Based on the information we have, we do not believe there are any survivors on the island.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters at an earlier news conference that New Zealanders and foreign visitors were on or near the island when the volcano erupted. White Island is located roughly 30 miles from New Zealand’s North Island in the Bay of Plenty. According to Washington post, It is uninhabited but frequented by tourists.

“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, and I can assure them police are doing everything they can,” said Ardern, who noted that she would be traveling to the island along with New Zealand’s civil defense minister, Peeni Henare.