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New Zealand volcano: deaths rise as plans made to retrieve bodies from White Island

  • The official death toll has risen to eight, with another eight presumed dead on White Island and over 20 in intensive care
  • Authorities say there is a 50 to 60 per cent chance of another eruption, but plans are being made to retrieve the remaining bodies on Friday

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An aerial view of the Whakaari, also known as White Island volcano, on December 12. Photo: Reuters
Reuters
New Zealand’s military will embark on a risky dawn mission to retrieve eight bodies from the still-active White Island volcano, officials said Thursday, as pressure from distraught victims’ families mounted.
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Teams will move in “soon after first light” on Friday, deputy police commissioner Mike Clement said, despite vulcanologists warning that the chances of another significant eruption in the next 24 hours had risen to 50-60 per cent.

“They will go on to the island and they will make every effort to recover all of the bodies” and transport them to military frigate HMNZS Wellington anchored off the coast, he said.

With the help of drone flights and helicopter pilots who were near the volcano immediately after the eruption, authorities have located six of the eight bodies on the island.

Recovering the six will be a priority, Clement said.

A geologist will be on hand sifting data in real time to determine whether another eruption is imminent and whether the mission needs to be aborted.

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