2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption

The volcanic island Whakaari, also called White Island, explosively erupted in New Zealand's northeastern Bay of Plenty region on 9 December 2019 at 2:11 pm NZDT. There were 47 people on or near the island at the time. The amount of people killed is currently 22, including 2 people that went missing and are believed to be dead. 25 people were injured, many critically.

 Events 
White Island is a popular tourist attraction. In the days leading up to the eruption, the volcano on White Island became more unstable, causing an earthquake at one point. Although the volcano's alert level increased, tours of White Island continued.

When the volcano erupted, it sent rock, volcanic ash, and super-hot gas  into the air. This hot gas burned the people on the island, causing deaths and injuries. The type of eruption was a phreatic eruption, where water heated by magma turns into steam and causes an explosion.

 After the eruption 
WorkSafe New Zealand, New Zealand's primary workplace safety organization, launched an investigation into the disaster alongside New Zealand police. WorkSafe New Zealand later charged 3 people (the owners of White Island) and 10 organizations.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that "the scale of this tragedy is devastating".

References

Category:2019 disasters
Category:2010s disasters in New Zealand
Category:December 2019 events
Category:2019 in Oceania
Category:Volcanic eruptions in New Zealand