Tourists visiting the Whakaari volcano on White Island, New Zealand, when it erupted in 2019 and killed 22 people, received no safety warnings, according to prosecutor Kristy McDonald.
Whakaari, one of the most active volcanoes in the country, visited by more than 17,500 people in 2018, erupted on December 9, 2019 when it was in alert status 2, on a scale of 5.
There were 47 people on White Island when the volcano erupted. Most of the survivors suffered severe burns.
New Zealand authorities have opened two investigations to determine responsibility for the disaster, including tour operators organizing trips to the island.
Prosecutor Kristy McDonald said during a trial session at Auckland District Court today that the 20 tourists and two tour guides who died were not warned of the risks.
“They didn’t have an opportunity to make any informed decision about whether they wanted to risk walking into the crater of an active and unpredictable volcano that erupted,” McDonald said.
Among the deaths, 14 were Australians, five Americans, two New Zealanders and one German.
The island’s owners, brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, their company Whakaari Management Ltd. and tour operators ID Tours NZ Ltd. and Tauranga Tourism Services Ltd. are suspected of failing to adequately protect tourists and staff.
McDonald’s said the company that owns the volcano, Whakaari Management Ltd., did not understand the risk, did not consult with tour operators about the dangers, did not ensure proper personal protective equipment was provided to tourists and staff and did not provided the appropriate means. of evacuation.
The volcano had already erupted on April 27, 2016 during the night and when there was no one on the island.
After the 2016 eruption, New Zealand’s geology agency, GNS Science, said its team was prohibited from visiting the crater floor until further notice due to the “elevated state of volcanic unrest,” McDonald said.
Despite knowing this, various operators continued to bring tourists to the crater, he said.
Source: TSF
