KUALA LUMPUR: 25 victims of the White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand are in critical condition.
The volcano erupted on Monday at 2.11pm, local time, 50-kilometres from the North Island coast.
An update from the New Zealand police posted on their official Facebook today stated that there are currently 30 patients in six hospitals around New Zealand — Middlemore, Hutt Valley, Auckland City, Tauranga, Waikato and Christchurch.
“Twenty five patients are critical with the remainder stable but serious.”
The statement was posted about three hours ago.
The police said that the environment on the island has changed following the eruption, thus raising concerns on safety of deploying onto the island.
At 8.30am (local time), a drone was launched for surveillance and a meeting with scientists will take place later in the day to gain further clarity.
“Those deploying to the island will likely encounter serious physical and chemical hazards, for which we must be prepared.”
At this stage, the police is not in a position to release further information about the nationalities or identities of the victims.
Disaster victim identification specialists are standing by in Whakatane ready to be deployed.
The police is also required to follow the international process for disaster victim identification – including the formal examination and documentation of bodies at the scene to ensure they are correctly identified and all the necessary information is gathered for subsequent investigations.
Yesterday, the police said there were 47 people on the island, which is a tourist hotspot, at the time of the eruption. From the total, 24 people were from Australia, China (2), Germany (4), Malaysia (1), New Zealand (5), United Kingdom (2) and United States (9).
The authorities said eight people were missing and presumed dead.
The bodies of the five confirmed deceased were transported to Auckland yesterday to enable post-mortem examinations to be carried out today.
The death toll from the eruption rose to six late yesterday, after an injured person died in a hospital in Auckland.
Meanwhile, it was reported that one Malaysian is feared dead while another is in critical condition.
The Malaysian High Commission in Wellington said it was informed by New Zealand authorities that at least one out of five immediate fatalities was a Malaysian.
Wisma Putra, meanwhile, confirmed that another Malaysian was injured in the incident.
“The victim is reported to be in critical condition and is receiving treatment at the Christchurch Hospital.
“The Malaysian High Commission in Wellington has yet to receive further information on another Malaysian who reportedly died in the incident,” it said in a statement yesterday.
Wisma Putra urged Malaysians who were affected or were at the scene to contact the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington at +64-4385 2439; +64-4801 5659 or +64-210440188 or email mwwellington@kln.gov.my.