Volcanic eruption on White Island, New Zealand

[jtbell]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/08/asia/new-zealand-white-island-eruption-intl-hnk/index.html

At least five people are dead. Ten are missing. The island is a popular tourist destination, and a group from a cruise ship was having a shore excursion when the eruption took place.

 

[anorlunda]

What a horrifying scenario on a small island. It would be analogous to fire on an airplane or fire on a boat, where you can't flee.

I too would love to be a tourist to see a live volcano up close. But I realize that is a very hazardous thing to do. I would also like to fly a wingsuit in Norway, but my wife won't let me.

 

[StevieTNZ]

The latest:

No-one is believed to be alive on White Island, where eight people are missing. The youngest person registered as missing is a 7-year-old child, and two tour staff are believed to be among the dead.

-- https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118058738/live-white-island-erupts

EDIT: our PM's statement: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/prime-minister-statement-white-island-eruption-1

 

[davenn]

I too would love to be a tourist to see a live volcano up close. But I realize that is a very hazardous thing to do. I would also like to fly a wingsuit in Norway, but my wife won't let me.

well, I have done the volcano thing, outstanding !

but there aint no way you are going to get me to jump out of a plane or off a cliff


Dave

 

We had a family holiday in New Zealand earlier this year, and it is certainly promoted as the 'adventure' destination for tourists.

I'd looked at a Whakaari (White Island) tour, as I've always wanted to see a volcano up-close and missed the opportunity when visiting Mauritius (La Réunion is close but time was against us). A side trip to Whakaari was not logistically possible, but we saw plenty of lower-level volcanic activity in and around Rotorua but I can still barely imagine the horror and stress of being caught up in an eruption event.

This is a tragic reminder that for all we seemed to have 'tamed' nature, it's a false comfort and environmental risks abound, whether obvious as in this case, or slow moving and insidious as with climate change.