New Zealand Volcano erupts with tourists inside the rim

[Zirconia]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50708727

Rescue uncertain for any survivors at the moment, 23 pulled out so far says the report.

I have looked at this on occasion though their live feeds (the geological office that runs the cams).

[Bill]

Poor buggers.

[Zirconia]

https://www.geonet.org.nz/vabs/4TA6UkHTyIQchYcjnSY...

Says it is was a small event. But volcanos big, we are small. No figures on the numbers unaccounted for yet but estimates 50 on the island, 20 or so rescued.
Someone who got off just before the eruption.
https://twitter.com/sch/status/1203918003978375168

[MellowshipSlinky]

Bloody hell!

[Zirconia]

https://apnews.com/c3528f13a47d24f3549f7bffd83fd5f...
At least 5 dead were taken off and some injuries are sever burns.
Some are from a cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas.

[poo at Paul's]

My thread post that crossed, below!


One confirmed death, but 5 suspected, several not accounted for. Cruise ship in the area and visitors reckoned to be from that.

New Zealand geological service increased alert on this site prior to the event, it is reported, was this communicated to the ship? How common was this excursion?

Whilst mother nature is an evil mistress at times, and I am no geologist (!) inn 2019, with the communication and technology we have, things like this should surely not happen?

Sympathies to those affected.

[poo at Paul's]

MellowshipSlinky said:

Bloody hell!

That heli looks a bit messed up!
I wonder if that went up to help and came down quickly in the ash?

[sjg]

Horrible. I visited in 2007 and it's not a place you'd want to stay too long at, even when it was quiet. It's so inhospitable even attempts to mine sulphur there didn't last long. Hard hats and gas masks are normal wear for the trips.

It's a couple of hours by boat from the mainland, obviously zero mobile signal, not a place you'd want to be stuck waiting for rescue.

[2fast748]

poo at Paul's said:

MellowshipSlinky said:

Bloody hell!

That heli looks a bit messed up!
I wonder if that went up to help and came down quickly in the ash?

From a Heli group on Facebook I get the impression it landed some tourists on the volcano before the eruption and they were evacuated by boat.

[Zirconia]

I saw the pic of the helicopter on the twitter feed. Not a crash expert but looks like it was overwhelmed as it was. Happened too fast?

Either way, how many does it carry, 4? Multiple trips or organisations fly out perhaps?


https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_i...

[red_slr]

Pic on the BBC of a group of tourists walking directly across the crater moments before the eruption which does not bode well at all. You would certainly not be able to out run it or do anything to protect yourself and I imagine most of them were wearing shorts and t-shirts as its the middle of summer down there.

[Canute]

red_slr said:

Pic on the BBC of a group of tourists walking directly across the crater moments before the eruption which does not bode well at all. You would certainly not be able to out run it or do anything to protect yourself and I imagine most of them were wearing shorts and t-shirts as its the middle of summer down there.

I tried to count from that picture I thought that maybe 12 people close to the crater edge! :-(

[red_slr]

Yeah looked like quite a few people, poor buggers.

[T-195]

Sounds fking grim.

[normalbloke]

The helicopter was already on the ground. It’s been blown off it’s small landing deck that you can see in the picture.The rotors were probably not turning when they were damaged.

[Canute]

News saying no more survivors detected. Very sad.

[red_slr]

Zirconia said:

I saw the pic of the helicopter on the twitter feed. Not a crash expert but looks like it was overwhelmed as it was. Happened too fast?

Either way, how many does it carry, 4? Multiple trips or organisations fly out perhaps?


https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_i...

From reading the news it seems there are various ways to visit and it looks like most travel by boat in groups of 20-30 people.
Those that don't want the 30km boat trip each way can pay extra for helicopter ride. The majority of people who were on the island at the time had come from a cruise ship day trip.

[poo at Paul's]

normalbloke said:

The helicopter was already on the ground. It’s been blown off it’s small landing deck that you can see in the picture.The rotors were probably not turning when they were damaged.

Yes, I reckon you're right, just goes to show the forces involved, you'd think it would all shoot upwards, but there's clearly a st load of wind come down or even gone up that mountain.

Horrific.

Presumably those very close would have suffered blast and burn injuries, those further away could have suffocated?
Grim indeed.

[Lynchie999]

... Im surprised such an active crater is such a big tourist destination tbh ... maybe the tourism companies and tourists became a bit "numb" to the actual danger ... sad to those that have lost their lives...

[Zirconia]

Lynchie999 said:

... Im surprised such an active crater is such a big tourist destination tbh ... maybe the tourism companies and tourists became a bit "numb" to the actual danger ... sad to those that have lost their lives...

I expect there are a few tours to volcanoes. Etna gets visitors, bloke below has been running them for years.
http://www.volcanolive.com