The island was the scene of a tragedy back in 2019.
A volcano on an island off the coast of New Zealand has been spewing volcanic ash in recent days, leading they country’s to raise its volcanic alert level.
Whakaari, which is also known as White Island, is the most active volcano in New Zealand, with the island itself created by continuous volcanic activity over the last 150,000 years.
On December 9, 2019, it was the scene of an eruption that killed 22 of the 47 people on the island at the time, with several documentaries later made about the tragedy.
Here’s everything you need to know about the latest eruption.
Where is Whakaari?
The volcanic island is located 30 miles off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island in the Bay of Plenty.
What is currently happening on Whakaari?
A statement from Earth Sciences New Zealand has revealed the current situation on the island, explaining: “A blanket of volcanic ash could be seen around the active vent in the Main Crater, and a small amount was being carried upwards in a column of steam and gas. The discharge was weak, with no evidence that any explosive eruption had occurred.”
It added that the activity could continue for weeks.
Is there any threat to the New Zealand mainland?
Earth Sciences New Zealand has stated that “significant impact to the mainland remains very unlikely” and that “the level of volcanic activity would have to escalate significantly for this likelihood to increase.”
What is the current volcanic alert level?
On Wednesday New Zealand raised its volcanic alert level, including an orange aviation colour code warning. This means that “a volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with an increased likelihood of eruption, or that a volcanic eruption is currently underway with no or only minor ash emissions”. It signals to “pilots and dispatchers that airspace near the active volcano requires caution due to potential or ongoing ash plumes.”
What happened on Whakaari in 2019?
On December 9, 2019, there was a large eruption on Whakaari. There were warning signs in the form of reports of increased gas, steam and mud being ejected from the crater the month before.
While Whakaari is uninhabited, it was a popular destination for day trips allowing tourists to see an active volcano. On the day of the eruption a total of 47 tourists and tour guides were on the island, prompting a major rescue operation.
A total of 22 people died in the explosion or from injuries sustained in the eruption, including two whose bodies were never recovered, with the remaining suffering serious injuries including sever burns.
In 2024 courts found against several of the tour operators, imposing NZ$10.21 million in damages to the victims and the victims’ families, along with NZ$2 million in fines.
The eruption is the subject of a Netflix documentary released in December 2022 entitled The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari.
Can you still visit Whakaari?
Trips to Whakaari are now prohibited, with all boat tours and helicopter landings on the island cancelled following the fatal December 2019 eruption.
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