A criminal investigation will be launched into the eruption of a volcano in New Zealand which killed at least five and injured dozens, police said.

The investigation will focus on the circumstances of the deaths and injuries of the 47 people after the eruption on White Island on Monday afternoon, New Zealand Police’s deputy commissioner John Timms said.

He added that Work Safe New Zealand have opened a health and safety investigation into the eruption on the privately owned island which attracts more than 10,000 visitors a year.

Dep Comm Timms confirmed five people have died, 31 are in hospital, three have been released and eight people are still missing “presumed dead”.

Providing the nationalities of all 47 people, he said two are from the UK, four from Germany, 24 from Australia, five from New Zealand, two from China, one from Malaysia and nine from the US.

More follows…

Source: Read Full Article