Royal Caribbean 'grieving tragic loss' as White Island missing named

The New Zealand police have named seven Australians and two New Zealanders who they are still searching for after the Whakaari (White Island) eruption on 9 December.

They are Gavin Dallow, Jessica Richards, Krystal Browitt, Richard Elzer, Zoe Hosking, Karla Matthews and Julie Richards from Australia; and Tipene Maangi and Hayden Inman from New Zealand.

Out of 50 people on the island when the eruption happened, at least five have died. There were 24 people from Australia, two from China, four from Germany, one from Malaysia, five from New Zealand, nine from the US and two British women on the privately owned island volcano.

White Island’s climate is currently “too dangerous” for emergency services to return, police say, but they are ready to go as soon as the risk is reduced.

GNS, New Zealand’s geoscience and isotope research service, said the possibility of a further eruption is imminent and significant with volcanic activity increasing.