New Zealand Commemorates One Year Of Mount White Island Eruption That Killed Dozens Of People

Mount White Island Eruption December 9, 2019 (Source: Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd)

JAKARTA - New Zealand commemorated a year of eruption of Mount White Island which killed 22 people on Wednesday, December 9 last year. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the accident an event that broke the hearts of New Zealanders.

The eruption of Mount White Island or what in Maori is called Whakaari, brought deep sorrow to the families left behind. Meanwhile the injured and survivors of the disaster also suffered deep trauma.

"In a country that has experienced so much pain and loss recently, 9 December 2019 was devastating," Ardern said at a memorial service in Whakatane, a town near the island.

Ardern also sent messages of grief to the victims and affected families. Not to forget, Ardern thanked the medical personnel who were ready to help the victims of the Mount White Island eruption.

There were 47 people who were on the island when the volcano erupted at 2:11 p.m. local time. White Island Mountain erupted twice in succession and spewed ash up to 12 thousand feet into the air.

Of the 47 people, the victims were the majority of travelers from various countries such as Australia, the United States, Britain, China, Germany and Malaysia. At that time, they were on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas which was traveling around New Zealand.

The death toll also reached 22 people. Of which 17 were Australian. For this reason, the Australian Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, expressed her condolences to the families of the victims.

"Together with many others in Australia and New Zealand, my colleagues and I throughout the Australian Government honor the memories of those lost in the disaster, and reflect on the resilience of those who survived and their families," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement. .