10 Dec 2019

Whakaari/White Island eruption latest details

From First Up, 5:52 am on 10 December 2019

As you've been hearing throughout the programme - Police say there are no signs of survivors on whakaari/white island and are working urgently to confirm the exact number of those who have died. 23 people were rescued during evacuation after a deadly explosion yesterday on the island - five of them have now died, 18 are injured and two are critical. It's believed up to 27 people may have been left on the island. Aerial reconnaissance missions have flown over the volcano island since the eruption but conditions remain too dangerous for emergency services to return yet. Our reporter Andrew McRae is in Whakatane where yesterday survivors were being brought to shore.