New Zealand police said on Tuesday they were ending the search for the bodies of two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/probes-into-new-zealand-volcano-tragedy-to-take-months-and-carry-criminal-penalties-268452">people still missing</a> following the deadly eruption of a volcano earlier this month.

"The search for the two missing victims of the Whakaari/<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/white-island-volcano-unexpectedly-erupts-in-new-zealand-267230">White Island eruption</a> has been suspended," Bay of Plenty District Commander, Superintendent Andy McGregor said in a statement.

"The families of the two missing people have been informed of this decision. Police remain ready to respond if new information comes to light," he added.

Those still missing, presumed dead, are Winona Langford, a 17-year-old Australian tourist, and Hayden Marshall-Inman, a 40-year-old New Zealand tour guide. Their bodies are thought to have been swept into the ocean around the uninhabited volcanic island.

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Australian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-pm-scott-morrison-hits-out-at-reckless-calls-to-cut-coal-industry-269654">Prime Minister Scott Morrison</a> told reporters he had not been updated on the situation due to being focussed on severe bushfires at home but said the New Zealand government had done all it could to recover the bodies.

"I have no doubt that they are exhausting every, every channel available to them to recover those remains," Morrison said.

"I can only say thank you, kia ora to New Zealand, and for everything that they've done to assist the Australians and Australian families," he said using a Māori expression of thanks.

The majority of the victims the powerful eruption of White Island, also known by its Māori name of Whakaari, were Australian citizens or permanent residents.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rescue-operation-hampered-in-volcano-hit-new-zealand-island-267755">Police</a> said on Monday one of those injured during the eruption had died in an Auckland hospital on the weekend, bringing the official <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-volcano-eruption-thirteen-dead-and-eight-missing-267321">death toll</a> to 17.

There has been criticism that tourists were allowed on the island, a popular destination for day-trippers, given the risks of an active volcano. That has led to speculation the tragedy could lead to major changes for New Zealand's thrillseeker tourism industry.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said official inquiries by coroners and work safety regulators into the eruption could take up to a year, and will carry potential criminal penalties of up to five years in jail.

New Zealand police said on Tuesday they were ending the search for the bodies of two people still missing following the deadly eruption of a volcano earlier this month.

New Zealand police said on Tuesday they were ending the search for the bodies of two people still missing following the deadly eruption of a volcano earlier this month. "The search for the two missing victims of the Whakaari/White Island eruption has been suspended," Bay of Plenty District Commander, Superintendent Andy McGregor said in a statement. "The families of the two missing people have been informed of this decision. Police remain ready to respond if new information comes to light," he added. Those still missing, presumed dead, are Winona Langford, a 17-year-old Australian tourist, and Hayden Marshall-Inman, a 40-year-old New Zealand tour guide. Their bodies are thought to have been swept into the ocean around the uninhabited volcanic island. × Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters he had not been updated on the situation due to being focussed on severe bushfires at home but said the New Zealand government had done all it could to recover the bodies. "I have no doubt that they are exhausting every, every channel available to them to recover those remains," Morrison said. "I can only say thank you, kia ora to New Zealand, and for everything that they've done to assist the Australians and Australian families," he said using a Māori expression of thanks. The majority of the victims the powerful eruption of White Island, also known by its Māori name of Whakaari, were Australian citizens or permanent residents. Police said on Monday one of those injured during the eruption had died in an Auckland hospital on the weekend, bringing the official death toll to 17. There has been criticism that tourists were allowed on the island, a popular destination for day-trippers, given the risks of an active volcano. That has led to speculation the tragedy could lead to major changes for New Zealand's thrillseeker tourism industry. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said official inquiries by coroners and work safety regulators into the eruption could take up to a year, and will carry potential criminal penalties of up to five years in jail.

New Zealand police suspends search for two missing in volcanic eruption

Auckland&nbsp;Classic organisers suffered a major setback to their tournament lineup on Tuesday with US&nbsp;Open <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/forgot-how-it-feels-to-lose-says-bianca-andreescu-after-14th-win-on-spin-252858">champion</a> Bianca&nbsp;Andreescu&nbsp;withdrawing due to "knee issues".

The Canadian teenager had been the top seed for the January&nbsp;6-12 tournament, which is a traditional warmup event for players fine-tuning their game ahead of the Australian Open.

"Organisers have been advised that Bianca&nbsp;Andreescu&nbsp;has had to withdraw from the upcoming event due to her ongoing knee issues," the tournament said in a statement on Tuesday.

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NEWS | Bianca Andreescu has had to withdraw from the 2020 ASB Classic due to her ongoing knee issues. We are disappointed not to welcome Bianca back and wish her all the best for a speedy recovery. <a href="https://t.co/7HVefuGLBe">pic.twitter.com/7HVefuGLBe</a>
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"We are disappointed not to welcome Bianca back and wish her all the best for a speedy recovery."

Andreescu&nbsp;came through qualifying in&nbsp;Auckland&nbsp;earlier this year only to lose to Germany's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kontaveit-downs-defending-champion-julia-goerges-in-zhuhai-174649">Julia Goerges</a> in the final, which she used as a springboard for a sensational 2019.

She won her first WTA Tour title at Indian Wells, then beat Serena Williams in the finals in Toronto and again at Flushing Meadows to clinch her first Grand Slam title.

The&nbsp;Auckland&nbsp;tournament had assembled arguably its strongest ever field with&nbsp;Andreescu, Williams, former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko all confirmed.

Two-times Grand Slam winner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fight-for-your-dreams-bianca-andreescu-embraces-path-to-us-open-joy-248384">Svetlana Kuznetsova</a> and American teenagers Amanda Anisimova and Coco Gauff have also entered the tournament before they head to Melbourne Park for the&nbsp;season-opening <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tsitsipas-sets-grand-slam-target-for-2020-269103">Grand Slam</a> that runs from January&nbsp;20 - February&nbsp;2.

Auckland Classic organisers suffered a major setback to their tournament lineup on Tuesday with US Open champion Bianca Andreescu withdrawing due to "knee issues".

Auckland Classic organisers suffered a major setback to their tournament lineup on Tuesday with US Open champion Bianca Andreescu withdrawing due to "knee issues". The Canadian teenager had been the top seed for the January 6-12 tournament, which is a traditional warmup event for players fine-tuning their game ahead of the Australian Open. "Organisers have been advised that Bianca Andreescu has had to withdraw from the upcoming event due to her ongoing knee issues," the tournament said in a statement on Tuesday. NEWS | Bianca Andreescu has had to withdraw from the 2020 ASB Classic due to her ongoing knee issues. We are disappointed not to welcome Bianca back and wish her all the best for a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/7HVefuGLBe — ASB Classic (@ASB_Classic) December 24, 2019 × "We are disappointed not to welcome Bianca back and wish her all the best for a speedy recovery." Andreescu came through qualifying in Auckland earlier this year only to lose to Germany's Julia Goerges in the final, which she used as a springboard for a sensational 2019. She won her first WTA Tour title at Indian Wells, then beat Serena Williams in the finals in Toronto and again at Flushing Meadows to clinch her first Grand Slam title. The Auckland tournament had assembled arguably its strongest ever field with Andreescu, Williams, former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko all confirmed. Two-times Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova and American teenagers Amanda Anisimova and Coco Gauff have also entered the tournament before they head to Melbourne Park for the season-opening Grand Slam that runs from January 20 - February 2.

Tennis: Bianca Andreescu out of season opener in Auckland over 'knee issues'

Bushfires to floods: The year of natural disasters

Has New Zealand Guns Amnesty & Buy-Back Scheme Failed To Achieve The Desired Result? #Gravitas #NewZealand #NewZealandGunsAmnesty

Gravitas: New Zealand Govt Ends Guns Amnesty & Buy-Back Scheme

A firearms buyback scheme launched in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/probes-into-new-zealand-volcano-tragedy-to-take-months-and-carry-criminal-penalties-268452">New&nbsp;Zealand</a>&nbsp;after the Christchurch mosque shootings end on Friday, with gun control groups hailing its success despite opposition from some firearms owners.

The March 15 attacks in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed shocked the normally peaceful South Pacific nation and prompted a swift ban on assault rifles and military-style semi-automatic weapons used by the lone shooter.

A key element of the ban was a buyback scheme accompanied by an amnesty, giving gun owners a payment and a guarantee of "no questions asked" when they handed in weapons deemed illegal under&nbsp;new&nbsp;laws.

Police said Friday that 56,350 firearms and 188,000 parts had been handed in and they were expecting a late rush before the final collection event at 8:00pm (0700GMT) Friday.

"There will be no extension -&nbsp;anyone prosecuted may lose their firearms licence and could face a penalty of up to five years imprisonment," police said.

Gun control advocates say the scheme has succeeded despite opposition from some firearms owners, who they accuse of adopting hardline tactics similar to the US National Rifle Association (NRA).&nbsp;

"Their rhetoric and style of approach very much come from the NRA," Gun Control NZ spokeswoman Hera Cook told AFP.

"Everything's a slippery slope, everything's a burden on gun owners, there are no compromises that are reasonable."

The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO) estimates there are 170,000 banned firearms in&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand, arguing that its data indicates less than a third of the illegal weapons have been collected.

"The scheme is looking like a failure due to the rush on implementing political and ideological remedies, instead of developing a more fair and reasonable hand-in regime," spokeswoman Nicole McKee said.

But police have provided no official estimate of illegal firearms numbers and Waikato University law professor Andrew Gillespie said there was no way to gauge them accurately.

"I have no idea how they (COLFO) got to this figure, given there's been no central firearms register since 1982," he said.

"Estimates of how many firearms are in the country overall are guesswork, with margins of hundreds or thousands either side."

Regardless of the numbers, University of Sydney gun policy researcher Philip Alpers said the buyback would result in a safer community.

"No one pretended police would immediately find every one of these guns," he said.

"But... for each rapid-fire weapon destroyed, you can expect the risk of another mass shooting to decrease."

'Unprecedented act'&nbsp;

The buyback's completion is not the end of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-tightens-gun-laws-again-after-mosque-massacre-249384">gun reform in&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand</a>&nbsp;and the government has already introduced a second tranche of measures to parliament.

They include establishing a firearms registry to track every gun in the country and ensuring only a "fit and proper person" can hold a firearms licence.

The measure will give police the power to exclude anyone promoting extremism, convicted of violent crime or with mental health issues, including attempted suicide.

Gun Control NZ's Cook said the latest reforms would lead to a long-term change in&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand's firearms culture.

But she warned the government had only a brief window of opportunity to further tighten gun laws before political inertia set in and pro-gun advocates set about watering down reforms.

"A lot of&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealanders who are not gun owners are complacent and think we've solved the problem with the buyback," she said.

"They don't understand how important the legislation currently before parliament is for creating long-term change."

A firearms buyback scheme launched in New Zealand after the Christchurch mosque shootings end on Friday, with gun control groups hailing its success despite opposition from some firearms owners.

A firearms buyback scheme launched in New Zealand after the Christchurch mosque shootings end on Friday, with gun control groups hailing its success despite opposition from some firearms owners. The March 15 attacks in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed shocked the normally peaceful South Pacific nation and prompted a swift ban on assault rifles and military-style semi-automatic weapons used by the lone shooter. A key element of the ban was a buyback scheme accompanied by an amnesty, giving gun owners a payment and a guarantee of "no questions asked" when they handed in weapons deemed illegal under new laws. Police said Friday that 56,350 firearms and 188,000 parts had been handed in and they were expecting a late rush before the final collection event at 8:00pm (0700GMT) Friday. "There will be no extension - anyone prosecuted may lose their firearms licence and could face a penalty of up to five years imprisonment," police said. Gun control advocates say the scheme has succeeded despite opposition from some firearms owners, who they accuse of adopting hardline tactics similar to the US National Rifle Association (NRA). "Their rhetoric and style of approach very much come from the NRA," Gun Control NZ spokeswoman Hera Cook told AFP. "Everything's a slippery slope, everything's a burden on gun owners, there are no compromises that are reasonable." The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO) estimates there are 170,000 banned firearms in New Zealand, arguing that its data indicates less than a third of the illegal weapons have been collected. "The scheme is looking like a failure due to the rush on implementing political and ideological remedies, instead of developing a more fair and reasonable hand-in regime," spokeswoman Nicole McKee said. But police have provided no official estimate of illegal firearms numbers and Waikato University law professor Andrew Gillespie said there was no way to gauge them accurately. "I have no idea how they (COLFO) got to this figure, given there's been no central firearms register since 1982," he said. "Estimates of how many firearms are in the country overall are guesswork, with margins of hundreds or thousands either side." Regardless of the numbers, University of Sydney gun policy researcher Philip Alpers said the buyback would result in a safer community. "No one pretended police would immediately find every one of these guns," he said. "But... for each rapid-fire weapon destroyed, you can expect the risk of another mass shooting to decrease." 'Unprecedented act' The buyback's completion is not the end of gun reform in New Zealand and the government has already introduced a second tranche of measures to parliament. They include establishing a firearms registry to track every gun in the country and ensuring only a "fit and proper person" can hold a firearms licence. The measure will give police the power to exclude anyone promoting extremism, convicted of violent crime or with mental health issues, including attempted suicide. Gun Control NZ's Cook said the latest reforms would lead to a long-term change in New Zealand's firearms culture. But she warned the government had only a brief window of opportunity to further tighten gun laws before political inertia set in and pro-gun advocates set about watering down reforms. "A lot of New Zealanders who are not gun owners are complacent and think we've solved the problem with the buyback," she said. "They don't understand how important the legislation currently before parliament is for creating long-term change."

New Zealand to close gun buyback sparked by mosque shootings

Boult was ruled out of the opener of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-beat-new-zealand-by-296-runs-to-win-first-test-in-perth-268378">three-match series</a> at Perth Stadium with a rib injury as injury-hit New Zealand suffered a 296-run thrashing in the pink-ball Test.

The left-arm quick got through a nets session unscathed on a scorching hot day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday in a boost to Kane Williamson's team.

"(I'm) feeling pretty good. Probably a little bit frustrated to be on the sidelines watching the games go by," the 30-year-old told reporters.

"I feel like I've been rehabbing well. The ball's coming out alright, I'm hoping to be pushing for Boxing Day and getting back out there.

"The side has been the issue. It's about rehabbing that, letting it rest and cool down.

"From there it's about being confident with the overs under my belt and having enough behind me. I feel like I'm in that place and ticking all the right boxes so far."

Boult said he would look to continue his recovery in a two-day game against a Victoria state XI starting on Friday as he works toward what would be his first Test at the MCG, which traditionally draws a huge crowd on Boxing Day.

"I appreciate that stage for what it is," said Boult, who played in front of 93,000 spectators at the MCG in the 2015 World Cup final defeat by Australia.

"Test cricket is my favourite format, this is the stage a lot of people dream of being on," Boult said.

"To get this opportunity in my career is definitely something I'm looking forward to."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-new-zealand-spearhead-boult-a-doubt-for-first-test-267610">Boult</a> bowled in the MCG nets on Wednesday to out-of-form opener Jeet Raval and reserve wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell.

New Zealand media pundits have urged selectors to pick two-Test Blundell in place of lefthander Raval, who has managed a top score of 19 in his past five innings.

The third and final Test of the series starts in Sydney on January&nbsp;3.

Boult was ruled out of the opener of the three-match series at Perth Stadium with a rib injury as injury-hit New Zealand suffered a 296-run thrashing in the pink-ball Test.

Boult was ruled out of the opener of the three-match series at Perth Stadium with a rib injury as injury-hit New Zealand suffered a 296-run thrashing in the pink-ball Test. The left-arm quick got through a nets session unscathed on a scorching hot day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday in a boost to Kane Williamson's team. "(I'm) feeling pretty good. Probably a little bit frustrated to be on the sidelines watching the games go by," the 30-year-old told reporters. "I feel like I've been rehabbing well. The ball's coming out alright, I'm hoping to be pushing for Boxing Day and getting back out there. "The side has been the issue. It's about rehabbing that, letting it rest and cool down. "From there it's about being confident with the overs under my belt and having enough behind me. I feel like I'm in that place and ticking all the right boxes so far." Boult said he would look to continue his recovery in a two-day game against a Victoria state XI starting on Friday as he works toward what would be his first Test at the MCG, which traditionally draws a huge crowd on Boxing Day. "I appreciate that stage for what it is," said Boult, who played in front of 93,000 spectators at the MCG in the 2015 World Cup final defeat by Australia. "Test cricket is my favourite format, this is the stage a lot of people dream of being on," Boult said. "To get this opportunity in my career is definitely something I'm looking forward to." Boult bowled in the MCG nets on Wednesday to out-of-form opener Jeet Raval and reserve wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell. New Zealand media pundits have urged selectors to pick two-Test Blundell in place of lefthander Raval, who has managed a top score of 19 in his past five innings. The third and final Test of the series starts in Sydney on January 3.

New Zealand's Trent Boult on track for 'dream' Boxing Day Test against Australia

Indian men's hockey team will kickstart their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/with-eight-months-from-tokyo-2020-venue-preparations-enter-final-stretch-263688#preparations-for-tokyo-2020-enter-final-stretch-263676">Tokyo 2020 Olympics</a> campaign against New Zealand while the women's team will play their first match against the Netherlands on July 25.

The draw for the competition was announced on Tuesday in Tokyo.

"A good start will always give the right confidence and momentum to carry on in the tournament so it will be important for us to begin with a win. New Zealand has always posed stiff competition for us and I believe it can be a close game," men's skipper Manpreet Singh said.

"It is important to keep our nerves in check as opening matches can be a bit overwhelming especially at a major event like the Olympics," he added.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-men-hockey-team-defeats-russia-qualifies-for-tokyo-olympics-259563">Indian men's team</a> has been clubbed with defending Olympic Champions Argentina, world number one Australia, Spain, New Zealand and Japan in Pool A.

India will play their second match against Australia on July 26 and then will face Spain on July 28.

The side will then lock horns with Argentina on July 30 and then play hosts Japan on July 31.

The men's quarter-finals will be played on August 2 while semi-finals will be held on August 4. The gold and bronze medal match will be played on August 6.

"Every game will be crucial at the Olympics and we cannot let our guard down against any team even if they are ranked below us. The competition will be so high that each match will need to be played like it's the final," Manpreet said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-women-hockey-team-qualifies-for-tokyo-olympics-259565">Indian women's team</a> is grouped in Pool A along with Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, and South Africa. The side will face Germany in their second Pool A match on July 27 followed by the match against defending Champions Great Britain on July 29.

The quarter-finals for the women's competition will be held on August 3 while the semi-final will be held on August 5. 
The gold and bronze medal match will be held on August 7.

"Draw does not matter because in the Olympics every team is equal and every team will come to the Olympics with an aim win. As a team, we need to focus on ourselves and what we can do better on the given day," women's skipper Rani said.

"We are preparing well to ensure we tick all the boxes in each of our matches and put all the energy into every game we play and give our best to the blue shirt if we want to see ourselves in the quarter-finals and semi-finals," she added.

Indian men's hockey team will kickstart their Tokyo 2020 Olympics campaign against New Zealand while the women's team will play their first match against the Netherlands on July 25.

Indian men's hockey team will kickstart their Tokyo 2020 Olympics campaign against New Zealand while the women's team will play their first match against the Netherlands on July 25. The draw for the competition was announced on Tuesday in Tokyo. "A good start will always give the right confidence and momentum to carry on in the tournament so it will be important for us to begin with a win. New Zealand has always posed stiff competition for us and I believe it can be a close game," men's skipper Manpreet Singh said. "It is important to keep our nerves in check as opening matches can be a bit overwhelming especially at a major event like the Olympics," he added. The Indian men's team has been clubbed with defending Olympic Champions Argentina, world number one Australia, Spain, New Zealand and Japan in Pool A. India will play their second match against Australia on July 26 and then will face Spain on July 28. The side will then lock horns with Argentina on July 30 and then play hosts Japan on July 31. The men's quarter-finals will be played on August 2 while semi-finals will be held on August 4. The gold and bronze medal match will be played on August 6. "Every game will be crucial at the Olympics and we cannot let our guard down against any team even if they are ranked below us. The competition will be so high that each match will need to be played like it's the final," Manpreet said. Indian women's team is grouped in Pool A along with Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, and South Africa. The side will face Germany in their second Pool A match on July 27 followed by the match against defending Champions Great Britain on July 29. The quarter-finals for the women's competition will be held on August 3 while the semi-final will be held on August 5. The gold and bronze medal match will be held on August 7. "Draw does not matter because in the Olympics every team is equal and every team will come to the Olympics with an aim win. As a team, we need to focus on ourselves and what we can do better on the given day," women's skipper Rani said. "We are preparing well to ensure we tick all the boxes in each of our matches and put all the energy into every game we play and give our best to the blue shirt if we want to see ourselves in the quarter-finals and semi-finals," she added.

Indian men's hockey team to face New Zealand in their opening match of Tokyo Olympics 2020

Australia and New Zealand would deliver the highest-attended&nbsp;women's&nbsp;soccer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-australia-new-zealand-join-forces-for-2023-womens-world-cup-bid-268042">World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;in&nbsp;2023</a>, with projections of more than 1.5 million spectators and an average crowd of 24,000 if they are&nbsp;awarded&nbsp;the tournament, officials said on Tuesday.

The trans-Tasman neighbours last week launched a joint bid backed by both governments to bring the tournament to the southern hemisphere for the first time in&nbsp;2023.

Their official bid book was presented to&nbsp;world&nbsp;governing body <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-to-invest-1billion-in-womens-football-in-the-next-four-years-infantino-257832">FIFA</a> last Friday.

Brazil, Colombia and Japan also submitted formal bids to host the tournament, the first to feature 32 teams.

This year's 24-team&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;in France, won by the United States, set&nbsp;records for attendance and attracted unprecedented viewing figures on television.

Average attendance in France was about 23,500, with the final in Lyon attracting 57,900. The 2015 tournament in Canada sold a&nbsp;record&nbsp;total of 1.35 million tickets.

New Zealand Football President Johanna Wood said their bid, which is marketed with the tag-line 'As One', was also built on providing a legacy for soccer in both countries and throughout the South Pacific.

"Moving the dial for&nbsp;women's&nbsp;football across our confederations and beyond sits at the very heart of our vision for the FIFA&nbsp;Women's&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;2023, as well as leading the way for gender equity and creating strong role models for women in leadership," Wood said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We stand ready 'As&nbsp;One'&nbsp;to deliver FIFA the most successful&nbsp;Women's&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;ever, a ground-breaking tournament whose impact will reverberate across the globe."

The pool phase for the joint&nbsp;Australasian bid would be split evenly with four groups in each country.

Auckland's Eden Park, the site of two men's rugby&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;finals, would host the opening ceremony and first match.

Australia, with its bigger stadia, would then host the majority of the knockout matches with five of the eight second round games, three quarter-finals, one semi-final and the playoff for third.

Sydney's redeveloped Olympic Stadium, with a capacity of 70,000, would be the venue for the final.

The&nbsp;Australasian bid is the first that crosses the boundaries of FIFA's six confederations. Australia realigned with the Asian confederation in early 2006, while New Zealand remained in the much smaller Oceania region.

The&nbsp;2023&nbsp;hosts will be decided by FIFA next year.

Australia and New Zealand would deliver the highest-attended women's soccer World Cup in 2023, with projections of more than 1.5 million spectators and an average crowd of 24,000 if they are awarded the tournament, officials said on Tuesday.

Australia and New Zealand would deliver the highest-attended women's soccer World Cup in 2023, with projections of more than 1.5 million spectators and an average crowd of 24,000 if they are awarded the tournament, officials said on Tuesday. The trans-Tasman neighbours last week launched a joint bid backed by both governments to bring the tournament to the southern hemisphere for the first time in 2023. Their official bid book was presented to world governing body FIFA last Friday. Brazil, Colombia and Japan also submitted formal bids to host the tournament, the first to feature 32 teams. This year's 24-team World Cup in France, won by the United States, set records for attendance and attracted unprecedented viewing figures on television. Average attendance in France was about 23,500, with the final in Lyon attracting 57,900. The 2015 tournament in Canada sold a record total of 1.35 million tickets. New Zealand Football President Johanna Wood said their bid, which is marketed with the tag-line 'As One', was also built on providing a legacy for soccer in both countries and throughout the South Pacific. "Moving the dial for women's football across our confederations and beyond sits at the very heart of our vision for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, as well as leading the way for gender equity and creating strong role models for women in leadership," Wood said in a statement on Tuesday. "We stand ready 'As One' to deliver FIFA the most successful Women's World Cup ever, a ground-breaking tournament whose impact will reverberate across the globe." The pool phase for the joint Australasian bid would be split evenly with four groups in each country. Auckland's Eden Park, the site of two men's rugby World Cup finals, would host the opening ceremony and first match. Australia, with its bigger stadia, would then host the majority of the knockout matches with five of the eight second round games, three quarter-finals, one semi-final and the playoff for third. Sydney's redeveloped Olympic Stadium, with a capacity of 70,000, would be the venue for the final. The Australasian bid is the first that crosses the boundaries of FIFA's six confederations. Australia realigned with the Asian confederation in early 2006, while New Zealand remained in the much smaller Oceania region. The 2023 hosts will be decided by FIFA next year.

Australasia promise record crowds if awarded 2023 Women's World Cup

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that official inquiries into last week's fatal volcano eruption could take up to a year, and will carry potential criminal penalties of up to five years in jail.

Ardern also announced an NZ$5 million ($3.2 million) fund to help small businesses affected by the eruption, after New Zealanders held a minute of silence to honour the victims a week on from the tragedy.

The official death toll from the surprise eruption on White Island, also known by its Maori name of Whakaari, stands at 16. Two people whose bodies are believed to be in the waters around the island are still officially listed as missing.

A further 26 people remain in hospitals in New Zealand and Australia, many in critical condition with severe burn injuries.

"There remains now questions to be asked and questions to be answered," Ardern told reporters in Wellington after she led the country in a minute of silence for the dead and injured, who included tourists from United States, Germany, China, Britain and Malaysia.

There has been growing criticism that people were allowed on the island, a popular destination for day-trippers, given the risks of an active volcano. That has led to speculation the tragedy could foretell major changes for New Zealand's thrillseeker tourism economy.

WorkSafe, New Zealand's primary regulator for workplace-related incidents, has opened a health and safety investigation, Ardern said, while the coroner is conducting a separate inquiry.

Worksafe can prosecute individuals and companies for breaches of health and safety laws, with penalties including fines of up to NZ$3 million and jail terms of up to five years, Ardern said.

A coronial investigation is automatically triggered in the event of a sudden, violent or unnatural death. A coroner can also make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.

Ardern said the Worksafe investigation could take a year, while the coronial inquiry was "also likely to continue for some time."

The NZ$5 million support fund is expected to be distributed among businesses in Whakatane, the mainland coastal town that serves as the jumping-off point for trips to Whakaari. Asked if operators of tours to the island would be among the beneficiaries, Ardern said that specifics had not yet been determined.

Search ongoing

At White Island, recovery teams again conducted aerial searches in a bid to locate the bodies of the last two people known to have been on the island.

Six bodies were retrieved from the island on Friday, and officials believe the remaining two bodies are now likely to be in the surrounding waters. Naval divers are scheduled to continue the search on Tuesday.

"We will continue the operation for as long as we have a chance of recovering those bodies," New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush told Radio New Zealand.

Many of dead and injured were Australians on a day tour from a Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ship. The 16-deck Ovation of the Seas docked back in Sydney on Monday, with some passengers disembarking in tears as they were reunited with family members.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne met with her New Zealand counterpart in Wellington on Monday to express Australia's thanks to emergency and medical crews.

Legal experts said last week they expected to see lawsuits filed in the US courts by injured passengers and families of those who died. Royal Caribbean's potential liability for the deadly excursion could hinge on whether the eruption was an unforeseeable "act of God," maritime lawyers told Reuters.

"We will to continue to provide ongoing support and services to them and their families during this difficult time," a spokeswoman for the company said in an emailed statement on Monday.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that official inquiries into last week's fatal volcano eruption could take up to a year, and will carry potential criminal penalties of up to five years in jail.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that official inquiries into last week's fatal volcano eruption could take up to a year, and will carry potential criminal penalties of up to five years in jail. Ardern also announced an NZ$5 million ($3.2 million) fund to help small businesses affected by the eruption, after New Zealanders held a minute of silence to honour the victims a week on from the tragedy. The official death toll from the surprise eruption on White Island, also known by its Maori name of Whakaari, stands at 16. Two people whose bodies are believed to be in the waters around the island are still officially listed as missing. A further 26 people remain in hospitals in New Zealand and Australia, many in critical condition with severe burn injuries. "There remains now questions to be asked and questions to be answered," Ardern told reporters in Wellington after she led the country in a minute of silence for the dead and injured, who included tourists from United States, Germany, China, Britain and Malaysia. There has been growing criticism that people were allowed on the island, a popular destination for day-trippers, given the risks of an active volcano. That has led to speculation the tragedy could foretell major changes for New Zealand's thrillseeker tourism economy. WorkSafe, New Zealand's primary regulator for workplace-related incidents, has opened a health and safety investigation, Ardern said, while the coroner is conducting a separate inquiry. Worksafe can prosecute individuals and companies for breaches of health and safety laws, with penalties including fines of up to NZ$3 million and jail terms of up to five years, Ardern said. A coronial investigation is automatically triggered in the event of a sudden, violent or unnatural death. A coroner can also make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future. Ardern said the Worksafe investigation could take a year, while the coronial inquiry was "also likely to continue for some time." The NZ$5 million support fund is expected to be distributed among businesses in Whakatane, the mainland coastal town that serves as the jumping-off point for trips to Whakaari. Asked if operators of tours to the island would be among the beneficiaries, Ardern said that specifics had not yet been determined. Search ongoing At White Island, recovery teams again conducted aerial searches in a bid to locate the bodies of the last two people known to have been on the island. Six bodies were retrieved from the island on Friday, and officials believe the remaining two bodies are now likely to be in the surrounding waters. Naval divers are scheduled to continue the search on Tuesday. "We will continue the operation for as long as we have a chance of recovering those bodies," New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush told Radio New Zealand. Many of dead and injured were Australians on a day tour from a Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ship. The 16-deck Ovation of the Seas docked back in Sydney on Monday, with some passengers disembarking in tears as they were reunited with family members. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne met with her New Zealand counterpart in Wellington on Monday to express Australia's thanks to emergency and medical crews. Legal experts said last week they expected to see lawsuits filed in the US courts by injured passengers and families of those who died. Royal Caribbean's potential liability for the deadly excursion could hinge on whether the eruption was an unforeseeable "act of God," maritime lawyers told Reuters. "We will to continue to provide ongoing support and services to them and their families during this difficult time," a spokeswoman for the company said in an emailed statement on Monday.

Probes into New Zealand volcano tragedy to take months and carry criminal penalties

The New Zealand Police confirmed 15 deaths from the volcano eruption in New Zealand's White Island on Sunday, and said two are still missing.

Two still missing after 15 deaths from White Island's volcano eruption

The death toll from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-divers-search-contaminated-waters-for-volcano-victims-268253">New Zealand's White Island volcano eruption</a> rose to 18 Sunday, including two people whose bodies have not been recovered, police said.

A land search early Sunday failed to find any sign of the missing pair and divers returned to the sea in the afternoon amid increasing speculation both could be in the water.

Deputy police commissioner Mike Clement said there was "every chance" the bodies had been washed into the sea from the stream where they were last seen Monday.

He added that searchers were "satisfied that the area we searched near the jetty is clear of the bodies".

"The rescue teams are frustrated. We understand completely how frustrating it is for loved ones who want the bodies back," Clement said.

Forty-seven people were on the island -- a popular tourist attraction -- when the explosion happened.

The death toll now stands at 18 after an Australian victim who had been repatriated to Sydney died in hospital almost a week after the deadly eruption.

Another 26 survivors remain in New Zealand and Australian hospitals, of which at least 18 are listed as "critical" and fighting for their lives after the eruption on the desolate island, which is the country's most active volcano.

The family of the latest victim have requested his name and age not be released.

Police on Sunday named seven victims who have been officially identified including New Zealand tour guide Tipene James Te Rangi Ataahua Maangi, 24.

Four were Australians -- Zoe Ella Hosking, 15, her stepfather Gavin Brian Dallow, 53, 51-year-old Anthony James Langford and Karla Michelle Mathews, 32 -- along with Matthew Robert Hollander, 13 and Berend Lawrence Hollander, 16, who were US citizens with Australian permanent residency.

Clement said although the land and sea searches had so far been unsuccessful in finding the remaining bodies, police had not given up hope.

"There will come a time when we've done everything we can do, when we've done everything that's sensible but we're not there yet... we don't give up easily," he said.

Scientists monitoring White Island said there had been no further significant activity since last Monday's eruption but the risk remained with the volcano alert at Level Two, which indicates "moderate to heightened unrest with potential for eruption hazards".

A glow was visible from the vent area overnight "which confirms there is a high heat flow present," said Geoff Kilgour, a volcanologist with GNS Science, which monitors seismic and volcanic activity in New Zealand.

"This has been confirmed today by an aerial observation this morning that noted an active crater is emitting volcanic gas at a high rate and very high temperature" above 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit).

The disaster has raised questions about why tourists were allowed on a volcano where experts had recently raised threat levels.

The death toll from New Zealand's White Island volcano eruption rose to 18 Sunday, including two people whose bodies have not been recovered, police said. A land search early Sunday failed to find any sign of the missing pair and divers returned to the sea in the afternoon amid increasing speculation both could be in the water.

The death toll from New Zealand's White Island volcano eruption rose to 18 Sunday, including two people whose bodies have not been recovered, police said. A land search early Sunday failed to find any sign of the missing pair and divers returned to the sea in the afternoon amid increasing speculation both could be in the water. Deputy police commissioner Mike Clement said there was "every chance" the bodies had been washed into the sea from the stream where they were last seen Monday. He added that searchers were "satisfied that the area we searched near the jetty is clear of the bodies". "The rescue teams are frustrated. We understand completely how frustrating it is for loved ones who want the bodies back," Clement said. Forty-seven people were on the island -- a popular tourist attraction -- when the explosion happened. The death toll now stands at 18 after an Australian victim who had been repatriated to Sydney died in hospital almost a week after the deadly eruption. Another 26 survivors remain in New Zealand and Australian hospitals, of which at least 18 are listed as "critical" and fighting for their lives after the eruption on the desolate island, which is the country's most active volcano. The family of the latest victim have requested his name and age not be released. Police on Sunday named seven victims who have been officially identified including New Zealand tour guide Tipene James Te Rangi Ataahua Maangi, 24. Four were Australians -- Zoe Ella Hosking, 15, her stepfather Gavin Brian Dallow, 53, 51-year-old Anthony James Langford and Karla Michelle Mathews, 32 -- along with Matthew Robert Hollander, 13 and Berend Lawrence Hollander, 16, who were US citizens with Australian permanent residency. Clement said although the land and sea searches had so far been unsuccessful in finding the remaining bodies, police had not given up hope. "There will come a time when we've done everything we can do, when we've done everything that's sensible but we're not there yet... we don't give up easily," he said. Scientists monitoring White Island said there had been no further significant activity since last Monday's eruption but the risk remained with the volcano alert at Level Two, which indicates "moderate to heightened unrest with potential for eruption hazards". A glow was visible from the vent area overnight "which confirms there is a high heat flow present," said Geoff Kilgour, a volcanologist with GNS Science, which monitors seismic and volcanic activity in New Zealand. "This has been confirmed today by an aerial observation this morning that noted an active crater is emitting volcanic gas at a high rate and very high temperature" above 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit). The disaster has raised questions about why tourists were allowed on a volcano where experts had recently raised threat levels.

New Zealand eruption death toll rises to 18

Australia recorded one of their biggest wins over New Zealand on the fourth day of the first Test at Perth Stadium on Sunday.

Having trailed by 250 runs on the first innings the Kiwis were set a mammoth 468 to win -- which would have been a record chase in Test cricket -- on a deteriorating pitch after Australia declared at 217 for nine in their second innings.

The visitors were never in contention after losing their first wicket with just six runs on the board and were unable to push the match into a fifth day after Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins cleaned up the Kiwi tail under lights in Perth's first ever day-night Test.

New Zealand were dismissed for 171 and were beaten by 296 runs, the last five wickets falling in a hurry for just 17 runs.

It was just one run shy of their biggest losing margin to Australia -- in runs -- in a match where both teams batted twice.

Australia's biggest win, other than innings victories, was 297 runs in Auckland in 1974.

Starc (4-45), who claimed nine wickets for the match, and Cummins (2-31) used the pink ball to good effect under lights to bring the match to a quick conclusion after none of the recognised Kiwi batsmen offered significant resistance.

The chase started poorly, with opener Jeet Raval making just one before being caught at gully by Nathan Lyon (4-63) from the bowling of Starc.

Star batsman and captain Kane Williamson then made just 14, before falling to Lyon's first ball of the innings.

Williamson got off to a fast start with boundaries from the first two balls he faced, but was caught at short leg fending a ball that bounced and turned sharply off his glove into the hands of Matthew Wade.

Ross Taylor was their last real hope of making a revival but on 22 he tried to pull a Starc delivery and got a bottom edge through to wicketkeeper Tim Paine to give the left-arm quick his seventh wicket of the match.

Tom Latham showed plenty of application to face 68 balls for his 18, but was given out leg before wicket to Lyon after an Australian DRS review, with umpire Aleem Dar initially giving him not out.

BJ Watling attempted to stem the tide with a gritty 40 and enjoyed a bit of luck as Australia didn't review when he got a faint outside edge through to Paine.

Smith then dropped a tough chance off the bowling of Lyon at first slip.

He was given out on review caught down leg side by Paine off the bowling of Starc after umpire Nigel Llong had turned down the appeal -- a dismissal that signalled the end of the Kiwi resistance.

Earlier, Australia's second innings fell away dramatically after being 131 for one at one stage on the third day.

The home team lost seven wickets for 58 runs, as they struggled against a sustained barrage of short-pitched bowling on another hot Perth day.

Tim Southee again impressed with 5-69, after also picking up four wickets in the first innings.

Australia recorded one of their biggest wins over New Zealand on the fourth day of the first Test at Perth Stadium on Sunday. Having trailed by 250 runs on the first innings the Kiwis were set a mammoth 468 to win -- which would have been a record chase in Test cricket -- on a deteriorating pitch after Australia declared at 217 for nine in their second innings.

Australia recorded one of their biggest wins over New Zealand on the fourth day of the first Test at Perth Stadium on Sunday. Having trailed by 250 runs on the first innings the Kiwis were set a mammoth 468 to win -- which would have been a record chase in Test cricket -- on a deteriorating pitch after Australia declared at 217 for nine in their second innings. The visitors were never in contention after losing their first wicket with just six runs on the board and were unable to push the match into a fifth day after Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins cleaned up the Kiwi tail under lights in Perth's first ever day-night Test. New Zealand were dismissed for 171 and were beaten by 296 runs, the last five wickets falling in a hurry for just 17 runs. It was just one run shy of their biggest losing margin to Australia -- in runs -- in a match where both teams batted twice. Australia's biggest win, other than innings victories, was 297 runs in Auckland in 1974. Starc (4-45), who claimed nine wickets for the match, and Cummins (2-31) used the pink ball to good effect under lights to bring the match to a quick conclusion after none of the recognised Kiwi batsmen offered significant resistance. The chase started poorly, with opener Jeet Raval making just one before being caught at gully by Nathan Lyon (4-63) from the bowling of Starc. Star batsman and captain Kane Williamson then made just 14, before falling to Lyon's first ball of the innings. Williamson got off to a fast start with boundaries from the first two balls he faced, but was caught at short leg fending a ball that bounced and turned sharply off his glove into the hands of Matthew Wade. Ross Taylor was their last real hope of making a revival but on 22 he tried to pull a Starc delivery and got a bottom edge through to wicketkeeper Tim Paine to give the left-arm quick his seventh wicket of the match. Tom Latham showed plenty of application to face 68 balls for his 18, but was given out leg before wicket to Lyon after an Australian DRS review, with umpire Aleem Dar initially giving him not out. BJ Watling attempted to stem the tide with a gritty 40 and enjoyed a bit of luck as Australia didn't review when he got a faint outside edge through to Paine. Smith then dropped a tough chance off the bowling of Lyon at first slip. He was given out on review caught down leg side by Paine off the bowling of Starc after umpire Nigel Llong had turned down the appeal -- a dismissal that signalled the end of the Kiwi resistance. Earlier, Australia's second innings fell away dramatically after being 131 for one at one stage on the third day. The home team lost seven wickets for 58 runs, as they struggled against a sustained barrage of short-pitched bowling on another hot Perth day. Tim Southee again impressed with 5-69, after also picking up four wickets in the first innings.

Australia beat New Zealand by 296 runs to win first Test in Perth

New Zealand divers searched contaminated waters near the volcanic White Island on Saturday in an attempt to retrieve two remaining bodies, following a fatal eruption earlier this week, said police.

New Zealand divers searched contaminated waters near the volcanic White Island on Saturday in an attempt to retrieve two remaining bodies, following a fatal eruption earlier this week, said police. Waters around the island were contaminated by the massive eruption of rocks, lava and chemicals on Monday, reducing visibility. The death toll from the eruption stands at 14, but may rise with many victims in intensive care with severe burns. "Divers have reported seeing a number of dead fish and eels washed ashore and floating in the water," police said in a statement. "Each time they surface, the divers are decontaminated using fresh water." The remains of six people were successfully recovered on Friday after a military team in gas masks and hazmat suits landed on the uninhabited island and removed the bodies in a high-risk operation. Police said they could not retrieve the remains of two more people, but spotted at least one body in the waters not too far from the island shoreline. Nine police dive squad members resumed their search at 7.00 a.m. local time (1800 GMT Friday) and the operation would be boosted by a navy dive team later in the day. The police said in an earlier statement they will not return to the island for a land-based search on Saturday, but will return in the future. "Today's planning will allow us to return to the island to conduct further land-based searches for the remaining deceased, as the environment on and around the island allows," police said. "There will be no return to the island today." In a statement released on Saturday, geological agency GeoNet said there was a 35% to 50% risk of an eruption that would impact beyond the volcano’s vent area in the next 24 hours. A decrease from the 50% and 60% risk announced on Friday. The volcano, a popular tourist destination for day-trippers, erupted on Monday, spewing ash, steam and gases over the island. Among the 47 people on the island at the time were Australian, U.S., German, Chinese, British and Malaysian tourists. The death toll from the eruption is now at 14. More than two dozen people are in hospitals across New Zealand and Australia, most with severe burn injuries. There has been criticism that tourists were allowed on the island at all, given signs of increasing tremor activity in the days before the eruption. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Saturday that a minute’s silence will be observed at 2.11 p.m. local time (0111GMT) on December 16, exactly one week from when the fatal eruption occurred. “Wherever you are in New Zealand, or around the world, this is a moment we can stand alongside those who have lost loved ones in this extraordinary tragedy,” Ardern said in the statement.

New Zealand divers search contaminated waters for volcano victims

Australia and New Zealand Friday launched a joint bid to host the 2023 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/major-takeaways-from-story-packed-womens-world-cup-233968">Women's World Cup</a>, which officials said would help supercharge female&nbsp;sport&nbsp;in the region.

Governing body <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-bans-former-top-afghan-football-official-over-abuse-cover-up-255374">FIFA </a>plans to increase the number of teams to 32 for the tournament from 24 at this year's event in France, and a two-country format would be able to better cope with the extra fixtures, they said.

"Australia and New Zealand have a successful history of both staging and co-hosting major international sporting events," said Australian&nbsp;Sports&nbsp;Minister Richard Colbeck.

"We have the infrastructure, expertise and enthusiasm to co-host the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023."

He added that bringing the tournament to Australia "strongly aligns with the government's commitment to inspire more girls and women to participate in&nbsp;sport".

Eight nations have expressed interest in hosting the 2023 tournament, according to FIFA, with Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, South Korea and South Africa also in the running.

New Zealand&nbsp;Sports&nbsp;Minister Grant Robertson said the joint bid, under the slogan "As One", was an opportunity for the two countries to showcase their commitment to women's&nbsp;sport.

"New Zealand and Australia are both countries that champion and celebrate women's&nbsp;sport, and it has been no surprise to see the football community, stadia, host cities and states across our two countries embrace this bid," he said.

"We know <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/six-bodies-retrieved-from-new-zealand-volcanic-island-as-survivors-face-long-recovery-268003">New Zealand</a> and Australia can work as a team to deliver something unique and world class, while also creating a legacy for women and for football in our countries and across Asia and Oceania."

A decision on the host is expected in May.&nbsp;

Australia and New Zealand Friday launched a joint bid to host the 2023 Women's World Cup, which officials said would help supercharge female sport in the region.

Australia and New Zealand Friday launched a joint bid to host the 2023 Women's World Cup, which officials said would help supercharge female sport in the region. Governing body FIFA plans to increase the number of teams to 32 for the tournament from 24 at this year's event in France, and a two-country format would be able to better cope with the extra fixtures, they said. "Australia and New Zealand have a successful history of both staging and co-hosting major international sporting events," said Australian Sports Minister Richard Colbeck. "We have the infrastructure, expertise and enthusiasm to co-host the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023." He added that bringing the tournament to Australia "strongly aligns with the government's commitment to inspire more girls and women to participate in sport". Eight nations have expressed interest in hosting the 2023 tournament, according to FIFA, with Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, South Korea and South Africa also in the running. New Zealand Sports Minister Grant Robertson said the joint bid, under the slogan "As One", was an opportunity for the two countries to showcase their commitment to women's sport. "New Zealand and Australia are both countries that champion and celebrate women's sport, and it has been no surprise to see the football community, stadia, host cities and states across our two countries embrace this bid," he said. "We know New Zealand and Australia can work as a team to deliver something unique and world class, while also creating a legacy for women and for football in our countries and across Asia and Oceania." A decision on the host is expected in May.

Football: Australia, New Zealand join forces for 2023 Women's World Cup bid

A New Zealand military team has recovered around six bodies from the volcanic island that erupted earlier this week. An eight-member team will work to recover the remaining two bodies on White Island today.

New Zealand military team recovers bodies on White Island

A New Zealand&nbsp;military team recovered six bodies on Friday from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rescue-operation-hampered-in-volcano-hit-new-zealand-island-267755">volcanic island that fatally erupted</a> earlier this week, in a high risk operation watched by dozens of grieving family members waiting on the mainland.

An eight-person bomb disposal squad was helicoptered in and spent four hours on White Island, which experts have said still has a 50-60 per cent&nbsp;chance of another eruption in the coming hours.

Six of the eight bodies on the island were successfully retrieved and taken to a naval patrol vessel for transfer to the mainland for disaster victim identification, New Zealand police said.

The team was unable to recover the remaining two bodies as the cumbersome protective equipment they needed to wear slowed down the tricky operation.

"It has been an incredibly difficult operation but it has been such a priority," New Zealand <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sanna-marin-needs-no-advice-jacinda-ardern-to-worlds-youngest-leader-267606">Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern</a> told Australian Broadcasting Radio Corp on Friday morning. "We just want to bring loved ones home."

New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said dive teams have been deployed in the waters around the island, which is also known by its Maori name of Whakaari, and another aerial search would be conducted later on Friday.

"It's not over yet," Bush told reporters in Whakatane, the mainland coastal town where about 100 family and local community members prayed and sang together as they watched helicopters fly to and from the island.

The volcano, a popular tourist destination for day-trippers, erupted on Monday, spewing ash, steam and gases over the island. Among the 47 people on the island at the time were Australian, US, German, Chinese, British and Malaysian tourists.

The official death toll stands at eight as the bodies on the island have been classified as missing until they are formally identified. More than two dozen more people are in hospitals across New Zealand and Australia, most with severe burn injuries.

A blessing was held at sea with the victims' families before the mission was launched.

Locals Boz Te Moana, 24 and Michael Mika, 28, came to support families gathered at the marae, a Maori community center in Whakatane on New Zealand's North Island, which lies some 50 km (30 miles) west of the island.

"Where we come from we don’t leave anyone behind, no one gets left behind," Te Moana said of his Maori community. "We all move as one."

Police had been confident of the location of six of the bodies as they had been viewed from the air but had cautioned there would be limited opportunity to search for the other two.

The recovery team of six men and two women wore hooded yellow hazmat suits with gas masks and kept in touch with an emergency standby team via radio.

"The environment that those staff encountered was unpredictable, challenging and those staff showed absolute courage in order to ensure that those six people were returned to their loved ones," Bush said.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she had been advised the six bodies removed from the island were likely to those of Australian tourists.

Payne added that 11 injured Australians have now been transferred from overloaded burns units in New Zealand, with one more to be repatriated in the "coming days".

Australians made up the majority of the tourists visiting the island at the time of the explosion. Many of them were passengers on a Royal Caribbean Cruises&nbsp;ship on a day tour to the island.

Peter Haertsch, the doctor in charge of the burns unit caring for the returned Australians, said they been exposed to fast-moving clouds of very hot volcanic gas, pumice and ash.

"They have suffered severe contact skin burns with severe injuries due to inhalation of gas and ash, and we are looking at extensive and intensive care for these patients, some of whom are still in a life-threatening condition," Haertsch said in an emailed statement.

Payne said Australia was working with the United States and other countries to source some of the urgently needed 1.2 million square cms (186,000 square inches) of skin, an amount that far exceeds annual donations in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-volcano-toll-seen-at-16-police-plan-to-recover-bodies-on-friday-267835">New Zealand</a> and Australia.

"It's jarring for us to hear just the sheer scale of that need because it amplifies just how horrific some of the injuries are," Ardern told ABC Radio.

Authorities had faced growing pressure in recent days from families of some victims to recover the bodies as soon as possible.

There has also been criticism that tourists were allowed on the island at all, given the risks of an active volcano. Ardern has announced an inquiry into the tragedy, which will address such broader questions.

"It's a very unpredictable volcano," she told ABC radio on Friday. "Having said that, that's not sufficient in terms of explanation as to whether or not the right checks and balances were in place."

A New Zealand military team recovered six bodies on Friday from the volcanic island that fatally erupted earlier this week, in a high risk operation watched by dozens of grieving family members waiting on the mainland.

A New Zealand military team recovered six bodies on Friday from the volcanic island that fatally erupted earlier this week, in a high risk operation watched by dozens of grieving family members waiting on the mainland. An eight-person bomb disposal squad was helicoptered in and spent four hours on White Island, which experts have said still has a 50-60 per cent chance of another eruption in the coming hours. Six of the eight bodies on the island were successfully retrieved and taken to a naval patrol vessel for transfer to the mainland for disaster victim identification, New Zealand police said. The team was unable to recover the remaining two bodies as the cumbersome protective equipment they needed to wear slowed down the tricky operation. "It has been an incredibly difficult operation but it has been such a priority," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Australian Broadcasting Radio Corp on Friday morning. "We just want to bring loved ones home." New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said dive teams have been deployed in the waters around the island, which is also known by its Maori name of Whakaari, and another aerial search would be conducted later on Friday. "It's not over yet," Bush told reporters in Whakatane, the mainland coastal town where about 100 family and local community members prayed and sang together as they watched helicopters fly to and from the island. The volcano, a popular tourist destination for day-trippers, erupted on Monday, spewing ash, steam and gases over the island. Among the 47 people on the island at the time were Australian, US, German, Chinese, British and Malaysian tourists. The official death toll stands at eight as the bodies on the island have been classified as missing until they are formally identified. More than two dozen more people are in hospitals across New Zealand and Australia, most with severe burn injuries. A blessing was held at sea with the victims' families before the mission was launched. Locals Boz Te Moana, 24 and Michael Mika, 28, came to support families gathered at the marae, a Maori community center in Whakatane on New Zealand's North Island, which lies some 50 km (30 miles) west of the island. "Where we come from we don’t leave anyone behind, no one gets left behind," Te Moana said of his Maori community. "We all move as one." Police had been confident of the location of six of the bodies as they had been viewed from the air but had cautioned there would be limited opportunity to search for the other two. The recovery team of six men and two women wore hooded yellow hazmat suits with gas masks and kept in touch with an emergency standby team via radio. "The environment that those staff encountered was unpredictable, challenging and those staff showed absolute courage in order to ensure that those six people were returned to their loved ones," Bush said. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she had been advised the six bodies removed from the island were likely to those of Australian tourists. Payne added that 11 injured Australians have now been transferred from overloaded burns units in New Zealand, with one more to be repatriated in the "coming days". Australians made up the majority of the tourists visiting the island at the time of the explosion. Many of them were passengers on a Royal Caribbean Cruises ship on a day tour to the island. Peter Haertsch, the doctor in charge of the burns unit caring for the returned Australians, said they been exposed to fast-moving clouds of very hot volcanic gas, pumice and ash. "They have suffered severe contact skin burns with severe injuries due to inhalation of gas and ash, and we are looking at extensive and intensive care for these patients, some of whom are still in a life-threatening condition," Haertsch said in an emailed statement. Payne said Australia was working with the United States and other countries to source some of the urgently needed 1.2 million square cms (186,000 square inches) of skin, an amount that far exceeds annual donations in New Zealand and Australia. "It's jarring for us to hear just the sheer scale of that need because it amplifies just how horrific some of the injuries are," Ardern told ABC Radio. Authorities had faced growing pressure in recent days from families of some victims to recover the bodies as soon as possible. There has also been criticism that tourists were allowed on the island at all, given the risks of an active volcano. Ardern has announced an inquiry into the tragedy, which will address such broader questions. "It's a very unpredictable volcano," she told ABC radio on Friday. "Having said that, that's not sufficient in terms of explanation as to whether or not the right checks and balances were in place."

Six bodies retrieved from New Zealand volcanic island as survivors face long recovery

Police in New Zealand are planning a mission to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rescue-operation-hampered-in-volcano-hit-new-zealand-island-267755">volcanic White Island </a>on Friday to retrieve bodies of people killed in this week's eruption, while the known death toll from the disaster climbed to eight, with two people dying in hospital.

Eight more people are missing and presumed dead, buried under ash and debris from Monday's eruption. More than 20 people are in hospital, many with severe burns, while seven others have been transferred to burns units in Australia.

Watch the video here:

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">"I can now confirm that we are finalising a plan to recover the bodies from Whakaari/ White Island tomorrow morning," police Deputy Commissioner John</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Tims said in a statement on Thursday, adding families will be briefed on the operation.</div>

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Our hearts go out to those caught up in the Whakaari/White Island volcano tragedy. Today we activated a repatriation plan to bring a number of the Australians injured home for specialist medical care ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/FJbEmM5kTT">pic.twitter.com/FJbEmM5kTT</a>
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1204659882395201536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Another police officer, Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement, later told a news conference the mission was risky and that a team would deploy at first light on Friday.

Six bodies could be seen and there would be "very limited" opportunity to search for the other two, he said.

"A lot has to go right for this to work," Clement said.

The volcano on White Island was "highly volatile" and could erupt again within days, said authorities.

There are no signs of life on the uninhabited island.

"We are now living with a growing sense of desperation to bring home those that we know are there and those we love," said Judy Turner, the mayor of Whakatane, the nearest town on the mainland. "The frustration of those families most affected is completely understandable. No news is not good news for people in this situation."

The volcano, a popular tourist destination for day-trips, erupted on Monday, spewing ash and steam over the island.

There were 47 people on the island, also known by its Maori name Whakaari, at the time of the eruption. Twenty-four of those were from Australia, nine from the United States, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two each from China and Britain and one from Malaysia.

Graham Leonard, a senior scientist at New Zealand's geological science agency GNS Science, said monitoring equipment still active on the island put the risk of a further eruption over the next 24 hours at 50% to 60%, up from 40% to 60% on Wednesday.

"Today is less safe than yesterday and the day before," he said.

In the event of another eruption, anybody on the island could be "pummelled to death" by flying rocks or overcome by ash and gases in temperatures exceeding hundreds of degrees Celsius, said GNS Science volcanologist Nico Fournier.

Clement said earlier the risk of both another eruption and toxic gases were simply too great on Thursday to expose recovery teams, although the situation was being constantly reviewed.

Burn injuries

Many of the injured are being treated for severe burns, and medical officials are importing some 1.2 million square cm (186,000 square inches) of skin. The amount of skin needed equates to about 60 donors. In New Zealand, only five to 10 people donate skin each year, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Teams of surgeons in several burns units around the country were working around the clock.

"What we faced on Monday was beyond comprehension," Dr Heike Hundemer, clinical leader at Whakatane hospital, said at a media conference on Wednesday.

"I've worked in major centres in Germany as well as in New Zealand. I've never seen this number of critically injured patients coming into an emergency department in a short space of time," said Hundemer.

"We used every single bedspace, every single resource we had to care for those people. Those patients we treated and comforted will forever stay in our minds."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 12 Australians would be taken back home for treatment. One citizen would remain in a New Zealand hospital.

Morrison said 11 Australians had died, a figure that is believed to be drawn from the 16 people officially listed dead and missing by New Zealand. Further, he said two permanent residents of Australia had died, one was missing and a fourth was hospitalised.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said there will be an inquiry into the tragedy, which will also look more broadly at issues including access to volcanic sites across New Zealand.

Daily tours bring more than 10,000 visitors to privately owned White Island every year, marketed as "the world's most accessible active marine volcano".

Royal Caribbean cruise lines has said that passengers from its ship 'Ovation of the Seas' were on the island at the time. It said it grieved "this tragic loss" and would continue to offer support and services to affected families.

The 'Ovation of the Seas' docked in Wellington on Thursday.

Police in New Zealand are planning a mission to volcanic White Island on Friday to retrieve bodies of people killed in this week's eruption, while the known death toll from the disaster climbed to eight, with two people dying in hospital.

Police in New Zealand are planning a mission to volcanic White Island on Friday to retrieve bodies of people killed in this week's eruption, while the known death toll from the disaster climbed to eight, with two people dying in hospital. Eight more people are missing and presumed dead, buried under ash and debris from Monday's eruption. More than 20 people are in hospital, many with severe burns, while seven others have been transferred to burns units in Australia. Watch the video here: "I can now confirm that we are finalising a plan to recover the bodies from Whakaari/ White Island tomorrow morning," police Deputy Commissioner John Tims said in a statement on Thursday, adding families will be briefed on the operation. Our hearts go out to those caught up in the Whakaari/White Island volcano tragedy. Today we activated a repatriation plan to bring a number of the Australians injured home for specialist medical care ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FJbEmM5kTT — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) December 11, 2019 × Another police officer, Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement, later told a news conference the mission was risky and that a team would deploy at first light on Friday. Six bodies could be seen and there would be "very limited" opportunity to search for the other two, he said. "A lot has to go right for this to work," Clement said. The volcano on White Island was "highly volatile" and could erupt again within days, said authorities. There are no signs of life on the uninhabited island. "We are now living with a growing sense of desperation to bring home those that we know are there and those we love," said Judy Turner, the mayor of Whakatane, the nearest town on the mainland. "The frustration of those families most affected is completely understandable. No news is not good news for people in this situation." The volcano, a popular tourist destination for day-trips, erupted on Monday, spewing ash and steam over the island. There were 47 people on the island, also known by its Maori name Whakaari, at the time of the eruption. Twenty-four of those were from Australia, nine from the United States, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two each from China and Britain and one from Malaysia. Graham Leonard, a senior scientist at New Zealand's geological science agency GNS Science, said monitoring equipment still active on the island put the risk of a further eruption over the next 24 hours at 50% to 60%, up from 40% to 60% on Wednesday. "Today is less safe than yesterday and the day before," he said. In the event of another eruption, anybody on the island could be "pummelled to death" by flying rocks or overcome by ash and gases in temperatures exceeding hundreds of degrees Celsius, said GNS Science volcanologist Nico Fournier. Clement said earlier the risk of both another eruption and toxic gases were simply too great on Thursday to expose recovery teams, although the situation was being constantly reviewed. Burn injuries Many of the injured are being treated for severe burns, and medical officials are importing some 1.2 million square cm (186,000 square inches) of skin. The amount of skin needed equates to about 60 donors. In New Zealand, only five to 10 people donate skin each year, the New Zealand Herald reported. Teams of surgeons in several burns units around the country were working around the clock. "What we faced on Monday was beyond comprehension," Dr Heike Hundemer, clinical leader at Whakatane hospital, said at a media conference on Wednesday. "I've worked in major centres in Germany as well as in New Zealand. I've never seen this number of critically injured patients coming into an emergency department in a short space of time," said Hundemer. "We used every single bedspace, every single resource we had to care for those people. Those patients we treated and comforted will forever stay in our minds." Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 12 Australians would be taken back home for treatment. One citizen would remain in a New Zealand hospital. Morrison said 11 Australians had died, a figure that is believed to be drawn from the 16 people officially listed dead and missing by New Zealand. Further, he said two permanent residents of Australia had died, one was missing and a fourth was hospitalised. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said there will be an inquiry into the tragedy, which will also look more broadly at issues including access to volcanic sites across New Zealand. Daily tours bring more than 10,000 visitors to privately owned White Island every year, marketed as "the world's most accessible active marine volcano". Royal Caribbean cruise lines has said that passengers from its ship 'Ovation of the Seas' were on the island at the time. It said it grieved "this tragic loss" and would continue to offer support and services to affected families. The 'Ovation of the Seas' docked in Wellington on Thursday.

New Zealand volcano toll seen at 16; police plan to recover bodies on Friday

New Zealand's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/slvsnz-trent-boult-tim-southee-rattle-sri-lanka-in-rain-hit-test-245147">Trent Boult</a> remains a doubt for the first Test against Australia due to a side injury but captain Kane Williamson says he will give the pace spearhead every chance to prove his fitness before the match begins in Perth on Thursday.

The tourists are sweating on the fitness of their ace quick with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-open-to-pink-ball-test-in-australia-with-proper-planning-264249">pink ball</a> used in the inaugural day-nighter at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-class-perth-stadium-gets-icc-green-light-29196https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-class-perth-stadium-gets-icc-green-light-29196">Perth Stadium</a> set to suit Boult’s penchant for swing.

Williamson said the team’s training session late on Wednesday would likely determine the availability of Boult, who had managed to get through training on Tuesday.

"We’re going to have another look at (Boult) today before deciding anything tomorrow,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“I think you look at it as a long-term decision in terms of this whole series. He has tracked really nicely and felt really good yesterday.”

Williamson was more confident in the injury status of veteran batsman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ross-taylor-fit-to-play-in-first-test-against-england-kane-williamson-36590">Ross Taylor</a> (thumb) and all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/de-grandhomme-seals-black-caps-win-over-pakistan-29742">Colin de Grandhomme</a> (abdominal muscle).

“Ross is fine, just a bit of a knock but nothing major. Colin is tracking nicely,” he said.

Uncapped fast bowler Lockie Ferguson could make his test debut on an expected fast, bouncy Perth pitch, which is expected to deteriorate with fierce heat forecast for most of the match.

“It’s exciting we’ve got Lockie in our squad to consider him,” Williamson said. “It’s exciting to have a guy in our camp who can bowl at that speed.”

Both teams are to wear black armbands as a tribute to the victims of New Zealand’s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/100-people-near-new-zealand-volcano-when-it-erupted-pm-jacinda-ardern-267054">White Island volcano</a> eruption and Williamson said the news had been a shock.

"It’s very hard to comprehend. When a tragedy like this happens it’s such a shock,” he added.

New Zealand's Trent Boult remains a doubt for the first Test against Australia due to a side injury but captain Kane Williamson says he will give the pace spearhead every chance to prove his fitness before the match begins in Perth on Thursday.

New Zealand's Trent Boult remains a doubt for the first Test against Australia due to a side injury but captain Kane Williamson says he will give the pace spearhead every chance to prove his fitness before the match begins in Perth on Thursday. The tourists are sweating on the fitness of their ace quick with the pink ball used in the inaugural day-nighter at Perth Stadium set to suit Boult’s penchant for swing. Williamson said the team’s training session late on Wednesday would likely determine the availability of Boult, who had managed to get through training on Tuesday. "We’re going to have another look at (Boult) today before deciding anything tomorrow,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I think you look at it as a long-term decision in terms of this whole series. He has tracked really nicely and felt really good yesterday.” Williamson was more confident in the injury status of veteran batsman Ross Taylor (thumb) and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme (abdominal muscle). “Ross is fine, just a bit of a knock but nothing major. Colin is tracking nicely,” he said. Uncapped fast bowler Lockie Ferguson could make his test debut on an expected fast, bouncy Perth pitch, which is expected to deteriorate with fierce heat forecast for most of the match. “It’s exciting we’ve got Lockie in our squad to consider him,” Williamson said. “It’s exciting to have a guy in our camp who can bowl at that speed.” Both teams are to wear black armbands as a tribute to the victims of New Zealand’s White Island volcano eruption and Williamson said the news had been a shock. "It’s very hard to comprehend. When a tragedy like this happens it’s such a shock,” he added.

Cricket: New Zealand spearhead Boult a doubt for first Test

Eight people were missing and presumed dead on Tuesday (December 10) after a volcanic eruption covered a small New Zealand island popular with tourists in hot ash and steam, killing five people and seriously injuring about 30 more.

Your Story: 8 missing people presumed dead in New Zealand

Thirteen people have been killed and eight people are missing and presumed dead after volcanic eruption covered a small New Zealand island popular with tourists in hot ash and steam.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/white-island-volcano-unexpectedly-erupts-in-new-zealand-267230">In pictures: When White Island volcano unexpectedly erupted in New Zealand</a>

Rescuers have been unable to access the island, which is covered in grey ash.

Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/volcano-erupts-in-new-zealand-267292/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The volcano vent continues to emit steam and New Zealand's geoscience agency has warned on another eruption in the coming 24 hours, with 50-50 chances.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has expressed "unfathomable grief" after the volcanic eruption have claimed 13 lives.

Ardern confirmed five fatalities and said another eight people were still missing after Monday's tragedy at White Island.

There was little hope of finding the missing alive, after overnight aerial reconnaissance flights found no signs of life.

"The focus this morning is on recovery and ensuring police can do that safely," she told a press conference.

Among those on the island during the cataclysm were tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China and Malaysia, as well as their New Zealand guides.

"To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief and your sorrow," Ardern said.

"Your loved ones stood alongside Kiwis who were hosting you here and we grieve with you."

Ardern singled out "our Australian family" for sympathy, while her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison warned his compatriots to brace for "a very hard day".

Morrison said there were fears that three of the five dead were Australian, and another eight citizens were unaccounted for. 
He described the tragedy as a "time of great innocence and joy interrupted by the horror of that eruption".

"This is a very, very hard day for a lot of Australian families whose loved ones have been caught up in this terrible, tragedy," he told reporters in Sydney.

A total of 31 people — including 13 Australians — were in hospital with various injuries, some listed as critical with serious burns.

White Island Tours, a trip operator, confirmed that two of its guides were unaccounted for, while Britain's high commissioner in Wellington said two female citizens were hospitalised.

Concerns about further eruptions, poisonous gases and choking ash stalled efforts to recover bodies.

"We will only go to the island when it is safe to do so for our people," police spokesman Bruce Bird said.

He said a helicopter scoured the area for 45 minutes, checking if anyone was still alive -- without success.

(With inputs from AFP)

Thirteen people have been killed and eight people are missing and presumed dead after volcanic eruption covered a small New Zealand island popular with tourists in hot ash and steam.

Thirteen people have been killed and eight people are missing and presumed dead after volcanic eruption covered a small New Zealand island popular with tourists in hot ash and steam. In pictures: When White Island volcano unexpectedly erupted in New Zealand Rescuers have been unable to access the island, which is covered in grey ash. Watch: The volcano vent continues to emit steam and New Zealand's geoscience agency has warned on another eruption in the coming 24 hours, with 50-50 chances. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has expressed "unfathomable grief" after the volcanic eruption have claimed 13 lives. Ardern confirmed five fatalities and said another eight people were still missing after Monday's tragedy at White Island. There was little hope of finding the missing alive, after overnight aerial reconnaissance flights found no signs of life. "The focus this morning is on recovery and ensuring police can do that safely," she told a press conference. Among those on the island during the cataclysm were tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China and Malaysia, as well as their New Zealand guides. "To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief and your sorrow," Ardern said. "Your loved ones stood alongside Kiwis who were hosting you here and we grieve with you." Ardern singled out "our Australian family" for sympathy, while her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison warned his compatriots to brace for "a very hard day". Morrison said there were fears that three of the five dead were Australian, and another eight citizens were unaccounted for. He described the tragedy as a "time of great innocence and joy interrupted by the horror of that eruption". "This is a very, very hard day for a lot of Australian families whose loved ones have been caught up in this terrible, tragedy," he told reporters in Sydney. A total of 31 people — including 13 Australians — were in hospital with various injuries, some listed as critical with serious burns. White Island Tours, a trip operator, confirmed that two of its guides were unaccounted for, while Britain's high commissioner in Wellington said two female citizens were hospitalised. Concerns about further eruptions, poisonous gases and choking ash stalled efforts to recover bodies. "We will only go to the island when it is safe to do so for our people," police spokesman Bruce Bird said. He said a helicopter scoured the area for 45 minutes, checking if anyone was still alive -- without success. (With inputs from AFP)

New Zealand volcano eruption: Thirteen dead and eight missing

By Shane Cronin

Five people have been confirmed dead, 31 remain in hospital with injuries and eight are still missing after sudden volcanic eruptions on Whakaari/White Island off the east coast of New Zealand.

The island is a tourist destination and 47 people were on it when it erupted on Monday afternoon. Three of those rescued have now been discharged from hospital.

Volcanologists at GeoNet, which operates a geological hazard monitoring system, described the eruption as impulsive and short-lived, with an ash plume that rose to more than three kilometres above the vent.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this morning praised the courage of the first responders and pilots who conducted an aerial survey. She confirmed that the flyovers have shown no signs of life. Police are today assessing whether it is safe to return to the island for a recovery operation.

Volcanic Hazards 
 
White Island is one of several volcanoes in New Zealand that can produce sudden explosive eruptions at any time. In this case, magma is shallow, and the heat and gases affect surface and ground water to form vigorous hydrothermal systems.

In these, water is trapped in pores of rocks in a super-heated state. Any external process, such as an earthquake, gas input from below, or even a change in the lake water level can tip this delicate balance and release the pressure on the hot and trapped water.

The resulting steam-driven eruption, also called a hydrothermal or phreatic eruption, can happen suddenly and with little to no warning. The expansion of water into steam is supersonic in speed and the liquid can expand to 1,700 times its original volume. This produces catastrophic impacts.

The expansion energy is enough to shatter solid rock, excavate craters and eject rock fragments and ash out to hundreds of metres away from the vent. We know of sites in New Zealand where material has been blasted out over three kilometres from the vent by such eruptions.

Potential for Further Eruptions

The hazards expected from steam-driven eruptions are violent ejections of hot blocks and ash, and the formation of “hurricane-like” currents of wet ash and coarse particles that radiate from the explosion vent. These can be deadly in terms of impact trauma, burns and respiratory injuries.

The eruptions are short-lived, but once one happens, there is a high chance for further, generally smaller ones as the system re-equilibrates. White Island is an acute location for such activity, but it is not the only location in New Zealand where this can happen.

Mount Ruapehu (crater lake), Mount Tongariro (Te Maari and Ketetahi) and geothermal areas of the central North Island all have the potential to cause such events. We know there have been more than 60 hydrothermal eruptions in the last 100 years in New Zealand. Some of these have caused loss of life.

No Warning

Monitoring and warning for hydrothermal eruptions is a huge challenge. We don’t normally see these eruptions coming, no matter how much we would like to. Many systems are already “primed” for such events, but the triggers are poorly understood.

The warning periods, once an event gets underway, are likely in the order of seconds to minutes. Our only hope for anticipating these events is to track potential vapour and liquid pressure in hydrothermal systems and to learn from their long-term behaviour when they are at a super-critical state. Unfortunately, there are no simple rules that can be followed and each hydrothermal system is different.

In this age of technology and instrumental monitoring, it seems irrational that there should be little or no warning for such eruptions. The eruption is not caused by magma, but by steam, and this is much harder to track in our current monitoring systems.

We have seen several other fatal hydrothermal catastrophies unfold in other parts of the world, such as the 2014 eruption of Mount Ontake in Japan. New Zealand has been luckier than many other parts of the world, until now.

 
(Shane Cronin is Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Auckland)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-white-island-erupted-and-why-there-was-no-warning-128550">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Shane Cronin Five people have been confirmed dead, 31 remain in hospital with injuries and eight are still missing after sudden volcanic eruptions on Whakaari/White Island off the east coast of New Zealand.

By Shane Cronin Five people have been confirmed dead, 31 remain in hospital with injuries and eight are still missing after sudden volcanic eruptions on Whakaari/White Island off the east coast of New Zealand. The island is a tourist destination and 47 people were on it when it erupted on Monday afternoon. Three of those rescued have now been discharged from hospital. Volcanologists at GeoNet, which operates a geological hazard monitoring system, described the eruption as impulsive and short-lived, with an ash plume that rose to more than three kilometres above the vent. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this morning praised the courage of the first responders and pilots who conducted an aerial survey. She confirmed that the flyovers have shown no signs of life. Police are today assessing whether it is safe to return to the island for a recovery operation. Volcanic Hazards White Island is one of several volcanoes in New Zealand that can produce sudden explosive eruptions at any time. In this case, magma is shallow, and the heat and gases affect surface and ground water to form vigorous hydrothermal systems. In these, water is trapped in pores of rocks in a super-heated state. Any external process, such as an earthquake, gas input from below, or even a change in the lake water level can tip this delicate balance and release the pressure on the hot and trapped water. The resulting steam-driven eruption, also called a hydrothermal or phreatic eruption, can happen suddenly and with little to no warning. The expansion of water into steam is supersonic in speed and the liquid can expand to 1,700 times its original volume. This produces catastrophic impacts. The expansion energy is enough to shatter solid rock, excavate craters and eject rock fragments and ash out to hundreds of metres away from the vent. We know of sites in New Zealand where material has been blasted out over three kilometres from the vent by such eruptions. Potential for Further Eruptions The hazards expected from steam-driven eruptions are violent ejections of hot blocks and ash, and the formation of “hurricane-like” currents of wet ash and coarse particles that radiate from the explosion vent. These can be deadly in terms of impact trauma, burns and respiratory injuries. The eruptions are short-lived, but once one happens, there is a high chance for further, generally smaller ones as the system re-equilibrates. White Island is an acute location for such activity, but it is not the only location in New Zealand where this can happen. Mount Ruapehu (crater lake), Mount Tongariro (Te Maari and Ketetahi) and geothermal areas of the central North Island all have the potential to cause such events. We know there have been more than 60 hydrothermal eruptions in the last 100 years in New Zealand. Some of these have caused loss of life. No Warning Monitoring and warning for hydrothermal eruptions is a huge challenge. We don’t normally see these eruptions coming, no matter how much we would like to. Many systems are already “primed” for such events, but the triggers are poorly understood. The warning periods, once an event gets underway, are likely in the order of seconds to minutes. Our only hope for anticipating these events is to track potential vapour and liquid pressure in hydrothermal systems and to learn from their long-term behaviour when they are at a super-critical state. Unfortunately, there are no simple rules that can be followed and each hydrothermal system is different. In this age of technology and instrumental monitoring, it seems irrational that there should be little or no warning for such eruptions. The eruption is not caused by magma, but by steam, and this is much harder to track in our current monitoring systems. We have seen several other fatal hydrothermal catastrophies unfold in other parts of the world, such as the 2014 eruption of Mount Ontake in Japan. New Zealand has been luckier than many other parts of the world, until now. (Shane Cronin is Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Auckland) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why White Island erupted and why there was no warning

Most destructive volcanic flare-ups in the last 25 years

When White Island volcano unexpectedly erupted in New Zealand

At least five people were killed, up to 20 injured and several were reported missing after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-volcano-eruption-one-dead-more-fatalities-feared-267098">a volcano suddenly erupted</a> off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island on Monday, spewing a plume of ash thousands of feet into the air.

More casualties were feared on White Island, where the volcano erupted at about 2:11 pm, police said.

Twenty-three people, some of them believed to be tourists from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, were rescued, police said, adding that others were still on the island.

About 50 people were feared to have been nearby and several were seen near the rim of the crater minutes before the eruption.

St&nbsp;John Ambulance said up to 20 people were believed to have been injured in the eruption, adding that a mobile triage unit was on its way. The organisation said it had sent seven helicopters to the island with medics on board.

Michael Schade, an engineering manager from San Francisco, was one of the tourists who made it off the island just before the eruption.

In a video Schade posted on Twitter as he sped away from the island by boat, a huge plume of white ash soars into the sky as a group of frightened tourists huddles close to the shore.

"This is so hard to believe," Schade said. "Our whole tour group were literally standing at the edge of the main crater not 30 minutes before."

A crater rim camera owned and operated by New Zealand science agency GeoNet shows groups of people walking toward and away from the rim inside the crater, from which white vapour constantly billows, in the hour leading up to the eruption.

At 2:00 pm&nbsp;the crater rim camera catches a group of people - tiny specks in relation to the vast volcano - right at the edge of the rim. At 2:10 pm,&nbsp;just a minute before the eruption - the group is headed away from the rim, following a well-worn track across the crater.

White Island is about 50 km&nbsp;from the east coast of North Island and huge plumes were visible from the mainland. Volcanologists said the ash plume shot 12,000 feet&nbsp;into the air.

"We know that there were a number of tourists on or around the island at the time, both New Zealanders and visitors from overseas," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a news conference.

"I know there will be a huge amount of concern and anxiety for those who had loved ones on or around the island at the time. I can assure them that police are doing everything they can."

On Twitter, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians had been affected by the eruption and the government was trying to learn more. Twenty-four Australians were on White Island when the volcano erupted, Australian media said.

Kevin O'Sullivan, chief executive of the New Zealand Cruise Association, said: "We believe there is a tour party from Ovation of the Seas involved in the White Island eruption. We have no further details at the moment."

Ovation of the Seas is a 16-deck cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises. It can take nearly 5,000 passengers and has a crew of about 1,500. It is docked at Tauranga, on the North Island, on a cruise that began in Sydney on Dec 3.

"We can confirm that a number of our guests were touring the island today," a company representative said in an emailed statement. "We do not have any additional details to share at this time."

No-fly zone

There seemed to be no danger for people in coastal areas farther away, authorities said.

The eruption was unexpected, but not unusual, an expert said.

"Sudden, unheralded eruptions from volcanoes such as White Island can be expected at any time," Shane Cronin, a volcanologist at University of Auckland, said in comments published by the Australia Science Media Centre.

"We know hydrothermal and so-called <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/100-people-near-new-zealand-volcano-when-it-erupted-pm-jacinda-ardern-267054">'phreatic' eruptions can occur suddenly</a> and with little or no warning because they are driven by the expansion of super-heated water into steam," he added.

Geological hazard tracker GeoNet raised the alert level for the White Island volcano in November due to an increase in volcanic activity.

Just last week, GeoNet volcanologist Brad Scott said in a report that moderate volcanic unrest continued at White Island, with substantial gas, steam and mud bursts observed at the vent located at the back of the crater lake.

The island's immediate surroundings were hazardous because of the eruption, the National Emergency Management Agency said in an statement, adding that falling ash might affect some areas.

The "short-lived eruption" showed no signs of escalating, New Zealand's geoscience agency GNS Science said in a statement.

The White Island volcano is one of New Zealand's most active.

The White Island volcano's last fatal eruption was in 1914, when it killed 12 sulphur miners. There was a short-lived eruption in April 2016.

White Island became a private scenic reserve in 1953, and daily tours allow more than 10,000 people to visit the volcano every year.

'Whakaari', as it is known in Maori, is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, built up by continuous volcanic activity over the past 150,000 years, according to geological hazard tracking agency GeoNet.

About 70 percent is under the sea, making the massive volcanic structure the largest in New Zealand.

At least five people were killed, up to 20 injured and several were reported missing after a volcano suddenly erupted off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island on Monday, spewing a plume of ash thousands of feet into the air.

At least five people were killed, up to 20 injured and several were reported missing after a volcano suddenly erupted off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island on Monday, spewing a plume of ash thousands of feet into the air. More casualties were feared on White Island, where the volcano erupted at about 2:11 pm, police said. Twenty-three people, some of them believed to be tourists from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, were rescued, police said, adding that others were still on the island. About 50 people were feared to have been nearby and several were seen near the rim of the crater minutes before the eruption. St John Ambulance said up to 20 people were believed to have been injured in the eruption, adding that a mobile triage unit was on its way. The organisation said it had sent seven helicopters to the island with medics on board. Michael Schade, an engineering manager from San Francisco, was one of the tourists who made it off the island just before the eruption. In a video Schade posted on Twitter as he sped away from the island by boat, a huge plume of white ash soars into the sky as a group of frightened tourists huddles close to the shore. "This is so hard to believe," Schade said. "Our whole tour group were literally standing at the edge of the main crater not 30 minutes before." A crater rim camera owned and operated by New Zealand science agency GeoNet shows groups of people walking toward and away from the rim inside the crater, from which white vapour constantly billows, in the hour leading up to the eruption. At 2:00 pm the crater rim camera catches a group of people - tiny specks in relation to the vast volcano - right at the edge of the rim. At 2:10 pm, just a minute before the eruption - the group is headed away from the rim, following a well-worn track across the crater. White Island is about 50 km from the east coast of North Island and huge plumes were visible from the mainland. Volcanologists said the ash plume shot 12,000 feet into the air. "We know that there were a number of tourists on or around the island at the time, both New Zealanders and visitors from overseas," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a news conference. "I know there will be a huge amount of concern and anxiety for those who had loved ones on or around the island at the time. I can assure them that police are doing everything they can." On Twitter, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians had been affected by the eruption and the government was trying to learn more. Twenty-four Australians were on White Island when the volcano erupted, Australian media said. Kevin O'Sullivan, chief executive of the New Zealand Cruise Association, said: "We believe there is a tour party from Ovation of the Seas involved in the White Island eruption. We have no further details at the moment." Ovation of the Seas is a 16-deck cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises. It can take nearly 5,000 passengers and has a crew of about 1,500. It is docked at Tauranga, on the North Island, on a cruise that began in Sydney on Dec 3. "We can confirm that a number of our guests were touring the island today," a company representative said in an emailed statement. "We do not have any additional details to share at this time." No-fly zone There seemed to be no danger for people in coastal areas farther away, authorities said. The eruption was unexpected, but not unusual, an expert said. "Sudden, unheralded eruptions from volcanoes such as White Island can be expected at any time," Shane Cronin, a volcanologist at University of Auckland, said in comments published by the Australia Science Media Centre. "We know hydrothermal and so-called 'phreatic' eruptions can occur suddenly and with little or no warning because they are driven by the expansion of super-heated water into steam," he added. Geological hazard tracker GeoNet raised the alert level for the White Island volcano in November due to an increase in volcanic activity. Just last week, GeoNet volcanologist Brad Scott said in a report that moderate volcanic unrest continued at White Island, with substantial gas, steam and mud bursts observed at the vent located at the back of the crater lake. The island's immediate surroundings were hazardous because of the eruption, the National Emergency Management Agency said in an statement, adding that falling ash might affect some areas. The "short-lived eruption" showed no signs of escalating, New Zealand's geoscience agency GNS Science said in a statement. The White Island volcano is one of New Zealand's most active. The White Island volcano's last fatal eruption was in 1914, when it killed 12 sulphur miners. There was a short-lived eruption in April 2016. White Island became a private scenic reserve in 1953, and daily tours allow more than 10,000 people to visit the volcano every year. 'Whakaari', as it is known in Maori, is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, built up by continuous volcanic activity over the past 150,000 years, according to geological hazard tracking agency GeoNet. About 70 percent is under the sea, making the massive volcanic structure the largest in New Zealand.

New Zealand: Volcano eruption kills five, several missing

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