Deputy commissioner says police are facing increasing pressure from victims’ families to recover bodies from White Island.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... ption-riskNew Zealand police have admitted they are “worried” they may never be able to retrieve the bodies of eight tourists on White Island, and the time may be drawing near to enacting a a rushed retrieval, despite the ongoing risks of another eruption.
Mike Clements, the deputy commissioner of national operations, said police were facing increasing pressure from families to retrieve the bodies, and there was a very real risk another eruption could mean they would be lost forever.
Judy Turner, the mayor of Whakatāne, said families were growing “desperate” and frustrated at the wait.
She said: “While we fully appreciate the need for the safety of any recovery team going onto Whakaari / White Island to retrieve our loved ones, we are now living with a growing sense of desperation to bring home those we know are there and those we love.”
The news came as it emerged two more people had died from injuries sustained during the eruption. A total of 16 people are believed to have died, with 14 confirmed deaths of Australian citizens or permanent residents. A New Zealander, tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, has also died.
Clements said the emergency response team were locked away in Whakatāne designing a range of scenarios to attempt a retrieval, and had brought two local helicopter pilots on board to help with the mission. Both pilots were instrumental in the rescue of 12 survivors on Monday, and know the location of the bodies.