[imagesource: Michael Schade / Twitter]

New Zealand has been rocked by a volcano that struck off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, on an island called White Island.

The volcano, which is also known as Whakaari, last erupted in 2001, and it is believed that 13 people died as a result of yesterday’s eruption.

At present, five people have officially been declared dead whilst another eight remain unaccounted for.

In total, 47 people were on the island at the time of the eruption.

The first 80 seconds below features footage taken in the moments that the volcano first erupted:

Mashable reports that U.S. visitor Michael Shade had been on the island around 20 minutes before the eruption, and he shared a number of videos:

My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001. My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable. #whiteisland pic.twitter.com/QJwWi12Tvt

— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019

Those are some of the people put boat picked up. Praying for them and their recovery. Woman my mom tended to was in critical condition but seemed strong by the end.

The helicopters on the island looked destroyed: pic.twitter.com/jds5QBD1yg

— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019

Some footage from the rescue efforts:

Aerial vision of #WhiteIsland – Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust deployed three helicopters to White Island and Whakatane yesterday (Monday.) #whiteislanderuption #volcaniceruption pic.twitter.com/8rvrw5H31h

— I Sea (@RiffRaffBriz) December 10, 2019

New Zealand law enforcement agencies have announced that an investigation will be launched, and criminal charges could still follow.

Below via CNN:

New Zealand’s geological hazard information site GeoNet said there was a 50% chance there could be another eruption within 24 hours…

Almost everyone who was evacuated from the island after the disaster suffered severe burns to their bodies, Ministry of Health spokesman Pete Watson said Tuesday.

Out of the 31 people still in hospital, 27 had burns to at least 30% of their bodies. The victims were aged between 13 and 72.

Given the extent of their injuries, Watson said that more deaths could be expected in the days ahead. “It’s possible that not all patients will survive,” he said.

According to Paul Quinn, chairman of White Island Tours, which takes tourists to the island, there was no indication that the volcano would blow.

The BBC reports that images from a live feed inside the volcano paint a grim picture:

The volcano erupted in two explosions in quick succession at around 14:11 (01:11 GMT) on Monday, sending up a thick plume of ash and smoke.

A live feed from the volcano showed several visitors inside the crater before the stream went dark.

According to [New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda] Ardern, there were two groups on the island at the time, “those who were able to be evacuated and those who were close to the eruption”.

Some survivors were rescued by boat in the immediate aftermath of the explosion, but police said it was too dangerous to mount a rescue operation.

Authorities believe that the chances of a second eruption within 24 hours are as high as 50%, which is hindering rescue proceedings.

[sources:mashable&cnn&bbc]