2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption | |
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![]() Whakaari / White Island, nine minutes after the eruption | |
Volcano | Whakaari / White Island |
Date | 9 December 2019[1] |
Start time | 14:11 NZDT (01:11 UTC) |
Type | Phreatic eruption |
Location | Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand 37°31′12″S 177°10′57″E / 37.52000°S 177.18250°E |
VEI | 2[1] |
Impact | Fatalities: 22 (including 2 who are missing, declared dead)[2] Injuries: 25 |
On 9 December 2019, Whakaari / White Island, an active stratovolcano island in New Zealand's northeastern Bay of Plenty region, explosively erupted.[3] The island was a popular tourist destination, known for its volcanic activity, and 47 people were on the island at the time. Twenty-two people died, either in the explosion or from injuries sustained, including two whose bodies were never found and were later declared dead. A further 25 people suffered injuries, with the majority needing intensive care for severe burns.[4] Continuing seismic and volcanic activity, together with heavy rainfall, low visibility and the presence of toxic gases, hampered recovery efforts over the week following the incident.[5][6][7]
Experts identified the event as a phreatic eruption: a release of steam and volcanic gases that caused an explosion, launching rock and ash into the air.[8]
Following the eruption, investigations resulted in WorkSafe New Zealand charging the owners of the island and multiple tour operators as well as government and scientific agencies under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 for failing to ensure the health and safety of workers and others.[9] As of July 2023[update], the charges against two government agencies have been dismissed or dropped and five tour operators have pleaded guilty to health and safety charges. The trial of six remaining defendants (three individual owners of the island and three tour operating companies) commenced on 11 July 2023.[10] In early September 2023, Judge Evangelos Thomas dismissed the individual charges against the island's owners Peter, Andrew, and James Buttle but upheld the charges against their company Whakaari Management Limited (WML).[11] On 12 September, Thomas dismissed the charges against co-defendants Tauranga Tourism Services (TTSL) and ID Tours, reducing the number of defendants to one.[12] On 31 October, WML was convicted of one health and safety charge relating to the eruption.[13]
On 1 March 2024, Judge Thomas imposed a total of NZ$10.21 million in reparations and NZ$2 million in fines on the six defendants Whakaari Management Limited, White Island Tours, Volcanic Air Safaris, Kahu Limited, Aerius, and GNS Science.[14][15]
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