Safety official inspected New Zealand’s White Island volcano two months before deadly eruption – but ‘did not raise a single concern’
- Worksafe NZ visited White Island 12 weeks before volcano erupted, says source
- The safety expert ‘didn’t raise a single concern’ following his visit to the island
- A total of 47 people – including 24 Australians – were on the island at the time
A safety official visited White Island two months before the volcano erupted and killed 17 people – but apparently did not raise a single concern.
The Worksafe New Zealand official toured the island as part of laws which require tourism companies to be safety audited every three years.
A source told Stuff that the official found no issues and the tours of the active volcano were allowed to continue.
‘A Government Health and Safety Inspector was recently on the island and this gave everyone the impression the operation was safe. He didn’t raise a single concern,’ the source said.
A Worksafe New Zealand safety official visited White Island months before the volcano erupted and killed 17 people
Worksafe confirmed the safety visit but would not release any details as it investigates the tragedy.
A spokeswoman said: ‘Elements of that visit will contribute to our investigation. So I can’t provide you with any details.’
A total of 47 people – including 24 Australians – were on the island at the time of the deadly eruption on December 9.
According to Stuff’s source, the safety official looked over the safety procedures before taking part in a tour.
The source said: ‘Worksafe are acting like they never went there and only approved the tourism operation on paper.
‘Maybe they should now be explaining to everyone what the inspector was doing there? What did he check and approve? I’m not blaming him but why haven’t Worksafe admitted he was there?’
Last week, authorities said the two missing bodies – identified as New Zealand tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, 40, and Australian teenager Winona Langford, 17 (pictured) – may never be found
A total of 47 people – including 24 Australians – were on the island at the time of the deadly eruption on December 9
The 17th victim, who has not been identified, died on December 22.
The 16th victim, Chris Cozad, died on December 14 after he had been medically transferred to Concord Hospital in Sydney from New Zealand.
Last week, authorities said the two missing bodies – identified as New Zealand tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, 40, and Australian teenager Winona Langford, 17 – may never be found.
Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement said he believes a storm soon after the eruption washed the bodies down a stream and into the Pacific Ocean.
Zoe Hosking (pictured) was on a tour of White Island with her mother and stepfather when the volcano exploded and she was killed
Dive crews on a police boat spotted a male body in the water near the island two days after the eruption.
He said the boat was able to maneuver within metres of the body but large waves prevented crews from recovering the body before it sank.
Winona’s parents Kristine, 45, and Anthony, 51, both died. Her 19-year-old brother Jesse survived and is recovering in hospital in Sydney with burns to 90 per cent of his body.
Investment banker Martin Hollander, his wife Barbara and their Knox Grammar School student sons Matthew, 13, and Berend, 16, were on the island when it erupted.
The family-of-four have been confirmed dead.
Chris Cozad (pictured) died on December 14 after he had been medically transferred to Concord Hospital in Sydney from New Zealand