A Volcano on New Zealand White Island erupted on March 16 while 46 people were visiting.
The search and rescue team recovered 6 bodies shortly after it occurred. However, as the search has continued, the death toll has been raised to at least 14 people.
Workers are still working on recovering bodies that were spotted in the water near the shore of the island.
As there was a possibility of another one occurring, the popular tourist spot was too dangerous after the first eruption. Authorities say that there are also chemical and physical hazards on the island.
New Zealand’s volcano monitoring service GeoNet said Friday that there is still a 50% to 60% chance of another eruption in the next 24 hours.
In a press conference Friday, police commissioner Mike Bush released a statement saying; “The environment that those staff encountered was unpredictable and challenging, and those staff showed absolute courage in order to ensure that those six people were returned to their loved ones,” he said. “It’s not over yet.”
The six bodies that were recovered will be transported to Auckland Friday for identification.
Authorities believe that almost everyone on the island at the time of the eruption was killed or injured — and dozens are still undergoing treatment for serious burns. In recent years, receiving over 10,000 visitors annually.
