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New Zealand Volcano Eruption: Five Dead, Eight Missing After White Island Blast

Jacinda Ardern confirms that New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the US, Britain, China and Malaysia are among missing on White Island/Whakaari. Follow rolling updates

The Guardian, 9 DEC 2019.

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incomin...5b/1_white.jpg

Hikers were seen inside the volcano's crater just moments before the eruption (Image: Twitter) A report from AAP:

The air is heavy and flags are at half mast in Whakatane.

Unlike Monday, when police and emergency services flew into furious action after Whakaari’s eruption, the town is now calm and waiting.

They are waiting for White Island to be cleared for access, and they are waiting for updates about those in hospital. Those waiting for news are doing so at the local marae, or Maori meeting house.

“The marae provides a focal point for the community to rally together, to provide help and care for those who are hurting at the moment,” community leader William Stewart told AAP.

“At 10 o’clock this morning we opened the marae and undertook a karakia, a spiritual ceremony.

“We invited those who had been impacted, staff, emergency response teams, friends and family of those that were caught up in yesterday’s events.”

People from all backgrounds are bringing food and offering support.

Stewart said more than a hundred people attended, including Australians.

“People of different backgrounds. The tribe was here and there were a lot of locals and people from out of town drawn by yesterday’s events,” he said.

“Absolutely people are grieving and it’s completely understandable.

“You don’t need to talk to them to realise they’re hurting and they’re deep in grief.

“It’s a privilege for us as a tribe to be able to welcome people here and be able to care for them.”

Marae leaders maintain close communications with police and other authorities; Australian consular support made themselves known on Monday.

Stewart was eager to point out a historical connection between the marae and Australia and the United Kingdom - two of the countries that had nationals on or near Whakaari during the eruption.

The marae is known as Mataatua or ‘the house that came home’.

The meeting house was built in the 1870s, but seized by colonial powers to Australia and then Britain for exhibitions and kept overseas for more than a century.

It returned in 1996, and following restoration work takes pride of place in Whakatane.

“That’s why it’s such a fitting place for today. It’s a symbol of our resilience, our unity and our strength,” Stewart said.

“It’s pertinent, because we do have some Australian whanau, Australian family that were impacted yesterday. There’s no better place for them than ‘the house that came home’ and is now back on our land.”