WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Police released on Wednesday the names of nine people missing in New Zealand’s volcano disaster. They are seven Australian tourists who made a day trip to White Island from a cruise ship that had left Sydney a few days earlier and two tour guides from New Zealand. Police said the list is not complete because they have not been able to speak to all next of kin. A total of 16 people are believed to have died from the eruption.
Police said they believe eight of those dead remain on the volcano, which teams have not been able to reach because the conditions are considered too hazardous.
Another 28 rescued people remain hospitalized, including 23 with critical burns.
Half of the 47 visitors on the island when the volcano erupted were Australians and most were from the cruise ship. Authorities say there were 24 Australians, nine Americans, five New Zealanders, four Germans, two Britons, two Chinese and a Malaysian on the island when the disaster struck.
Some…
Source news reuters.com, click here to read the full news.
