'No signs of life': Five dead, eight missing following volcano eruption

10/12/2019

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed at least five people have died, eight people are missing and 31 remain in hospital following an eruption on a volcanic island in New Zealand. The prime minister on Tuesday morning told NZ reporters “no signs of life have been seen” and the volcano on White Island is “very unpredictable”. Among those eight missing are believed to be tourists from Australia, the United Kingdom, the United states, China and Malaysia. There were an estimated 47 people at the site at the time of the eruption, Ms Ardern confirmed. At least 31 people remain in hospital, with most sustaining burn injuries. Prime Minister Ardern also told reporters she was “in regular communication with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and will continue to do so”.