Tourists who escaped a volcano eruption off the coast of New Zealand have spoken of their terrifying ordeal and revealed others who remain trapped didn’t have time to flee.
Whakaari, also known as White Island, erupted at 2.11pm local time on Monday blowing huge plumes of smoke and debris nearly 4km into the sky.
New Zealand officials confirmed five people are dead, while at least 20 are injured and more than 20 are missing.
Michael Schade, a traveller from San Francisco, said his tour group was standing at the edge of the main crater less than 30 minutes before the blast.
Brazilian tourist Allessandro Kauffmann was on White Island moments before the eruption
Mr Kauffmann shared videos of the volcano erupt as his boat sailed to safety
‘My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001,’ he wrote on Twitter.
‘My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it.
‘Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable.’
Mr Schade shared video footage of the destruction and some of the tourists who managed to escape onto his vessel.
‘Praying for them and their recovery. Woman my mum tended to was in critical condition but seemed strong by the end.
‘My thoughts with the families of those currently unaccounted for, the people recovering now, and especially the rescue workers.’
Michael Schade, a traveller from San Francisco, said his tour group was standing at the edge of the main crater less than 30 minutes before the blast
The White Island Tour operators are seen during the rescue operation about 12 to 14 minutes after the eruption
Rescue services are seen evacuating a group of tourists in a dinghy
Brazilian tourist Allessandro Kauffmann, who was on a tour to the island, shared a series of Instagram stories throughout the day and said he fled moments before the eruption.
‘Some people have extensive burns on their bodies. Two tours on the volcano. Ours was the first. The other one right after,’ he said after escaping.
‘We left the island and wasn’t even five minutes before it erupted. This other tour that arrived after couldn’t leave in time.’
Mr Kauffmann also said he saw tourists covered in ash.
Brazilian couple Allessandro Kauffmann and Aline Moura are pictured on their tour before the eruption (left). Speaking in a series of Instagram stories (right), the couple said their boat helped rescue people who suffered burns from the eruption
His partner Aline Moura shared videos of the eruption to Instagram to recount her day.
‘This was the end of today’s trip that I had. The beginning was excellent, lots of cool pictures, amazing experience,’ she wrote.
‘But nature is autonomous and man has no control over his will.
‘Surely we never forget that day. Let us pray that everyone will be fine.’
Speaking in a series of Instagram stories, the couple said their boat helped rescue people who suffered burns from the eruption.
Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, which has 4579 passengers and 1595 crew on board the vessel, is docked in Tauranga, 90 kilometres from White Island.
The captain of the vessel announced one crew member and a group of passengers were on the island when the volcano erupted, New Zealand Herald reported.
New Zealand officials confirmed five people have died, while at least 20 are injured and more than 20 are missing
Passenger Nigel Walker, from Wollongong, south of Sydney, extended his thoughts to those missing.
‘It’s tragic… I was only saying to my mother-in-law before the cruise that White Island would be a great place to visit,’ he said.
National Operation Commander Deputy Commissioner John Tims told reporters on Monday evening that it’s currently too dangerous to search for survivors
Royal Caribbean issued a statement saying the ship – which originated in Sydney – would stay in the nearby port overnight ‘until we learn more about the situation’.
Samantha Olley, a reporter from Rotorua Daily Post, described the plume of smoke as a ‘steaming monstrosity’ after flying over White Island.
As many as 27 people have been left stranded on their island, with their condition unknown.
Police and emergency services haven’t been able to reach or make contact with those trapped by the blast.
National Operation Commander Deputy Commissioner John Tims told reporters on Monday evening that it’s currently too dangerous to search for survivors.
‘There are possibilities of further eruptions. The physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island,’ he said.
‘It is important that we consider the health and safety of those that are going to rescue those on the island. So we will be taking that advice.’