New Zealand volcano: Two Britons among those injured after deadly eruption

Two British women are among those injured by a deadly volcanic eruption in New Zealand and are in hospital, the UK high commissioner to the country, Laura Clarke, has said.

Of the 47 people believed to have been on White Island at the time of the explosion, five people have died, 31 remain in hospital, and eight are still missing, according to police deputy commissioner John Tims. Three have been discharged from hospital.

Police said that despite spotting "some people" on the island in daring aerial reconnaissance efforts since the blast, rescuers saw “no signs of life” at any point.

“It is now clear there were two groups on the island,” prime minister Jacinda Ardern​ said at a Tuesday morning press conference. “Those who were able to be evacuated, and those who were close to the eruption.

“We can confirm that among those currently listed as missing or injured are New Zealanders who were part of the tour operation, and tourists from Australia, the United States, the UK, China and Malaysia. That is to the best of our knowledge.”

Five British people are currently marked missing on a list created by the Red Cross in the eruption's wake, which is updated by members of the public.

It is currently too difficult for police and rescue services to reach the island, known in Māori as Whakaari, Mr Tims said, telling reporters: ”The island is currently covered in ash and volcanic material.”

A police statement said a navy ship would approach the perimeter of the island at first light to deploy drones and observational equipment to further assess the environment.

Ms Ardern acknowledged the “courageous” decisions made by first responders and pilots who managed to rescue a number of people from the Bay of Plenty island “under extraordinarily dangerous circumstances”.

One boat returned filled with “half a metre of ash”, she said.

Questions have been raised as to why visitors were allowed on White Island – the tip of an underwater volcano which is the country’s most active – despite scientists noting an uptick in activity in recent weeks.

Volcanic expert and professor emeritus at Monash University’s Geosciences school, Ray Cas, branded White Island ”a disaster waiting to happen for many years” in comments published by the Australian Science Media Centre.

“Having visited it twice, I have always felt that it was too dangerous to allow the daily tour groups that visit the uninhabited island volcano by boat and helicopter,” he said.

New Zealand geological hazards agency GeoNet measure activity on the island, which is the tip of New Zealand’s most active volcano.

An image captured by the agency’s crater rim camera one minute before the eruption at 2.11pm shows a group of people still on the edge of the crater.

While “some people” could be seen from one of the rescue helicopters, Superintendent Bruce Bird told PA: “We do not believe anyone else has survived the explosion.”