New Zealand officials confirmed five people have died and eight people are still missing after a cone volcano on White Island (Whakaari) unexpectedly erupted on Monday. A group of tourists was filmed walking across the crater of the volcano before the live webcam usually recording activity within the vent was disconnected in the eruption. Another live webcam set up in Whakatane – the closest town to White Island – has since been recording the aftermath of the deadly explosion. 

Officials have admitted it is unlikely more of the tourists visiting Whakaari at the time of the volcano eruption will be found alive after some of the casualties were rescued having suffered severe burns. 

Paramedic Russell Clark, who flew to White Island to help with the rescue mission, told the scene at his arrival reminded him of “the Chernobyl mini-series’.

Mr Russell said: “Everything was blanketed in ash.

“There was a helicopter on the island that had obviously been there at the time and its rotor blades were off it.

WATCH HERE: Live webcam from Whakatane Harbour overlooking New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty 

Volcanologist Prof Richard Arculus from the Australian National University said there would have been “nowhere safe” to hide inside of the crater because of the nature of the eruption.

Prof Arculus told The Associated Press the explosion likely did not only case ash and rock to be spewed into the air but also resulted in a vertical ring blast closer to the ground.

The volcanologist said: “In that crater, it would have been a terrible place to be.

“There would have been nowhere safe for you to be hiding.”

READ MORE: Could White Island eruption awaken the Taupo supervolcano?

A group of visiting tourists had just left Whakaari when the island “went dark” because of a huge black ash cloud engulfing the atoll.

Geoff Hopkins said he and daughter Lilani watched in horror as White Island disappeared from you from a catamaran they had boarded minuted before with other fellow tourists.

Mr Hopkins said: “A rolling rumbling mass of ash tumbled over the cliff face, in all directions, and it completely engulfed the island.

“It cut out the sun. It went dark. You couldn’t see that there was an island there. It was completely covered in ash.”

In a statement, the police said there are likely no survivors left on the island but 23 people were being treated for injuries.

Both New Zealanders and tourists from abroad were caught up in the eruption.

New Zealand Police said: “Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation.

“Based on the information we have, we do not believe there are any survivors on the island.

“Police is working urgently to confirm the exact number of those who have died, further to the five confirmed deceased already.”

The current Volcanic Alert Level for New Zealand is Level 3.

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