Civil Defence and NZ Police have held a press conference detailing the recovery effort so far for victims of the Whakaari White Island volcanic eruption.
"This morning we were hopeful we would be able to recover bodies of the people who unfortunately lost their lives on the island, however this has not been possible due to conditions," Civil Defence Emergency Management director Sarah Stuart-Black said.
The Australian government has offered its Defence Force to repatriate Australian victims, Director of General Health Ashley Bloomfield said.
“We are standing by to go back to the island at Whakatāne as soon as we are confident that there are no risks, and that those risks can be managed when we return to the island, we will do so," Police deputy commissioner John Tims said.
