A person takes photos of volcanic eruption at New Zealand's White Island, Dec. 9, 2019. (Photo provided by Michael Schade/Handout via Xinhua)
Chinese nationals are among those injured in New Zealand's White Island volcanic eruption on Monday, according to a briefing of the Chinese Embassy to New Zealand.
Five people have been confirmed dead so far and eight others are still missing, presumed dead, in the volcanic eruption with more casualties likely, according to the police.
WELLINGTON, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese nationals are among those injured in New Zealand's White Island volcanic eruption on Monday, according to a briefing of the Chinese Embassy to New Zealand on Tuesday.
The Chinese embassy said it is still awaiting further information about the Chinese nationals injured in the volcanic eruption.
An official from the embassy told Xinhua that an emergency response has been activated and Chinese ambassador Wu Xi leads the team. The embassy is working with local police to check if there are any Chinese nationals among the dead.
Photo taken on Dec. 9, 2019 shows the heavy smoke from volcanic eruption at New Zealand's White Island. (Photo provided by Michael Schade/Handout via Xinhua)
Five people have been confirmed dead so far and eight others are still missing, presumed dead, in the volcanic eruption in White Island in the Eastern Bay of Plenty of the North Island on Monday, with more casualties likely, according to the latest police briefing on Tuesday.
Thirty-one people are in seven hospitals and three have been discharged so far, according to the police.
At the time of the volcanic eruption, there were 47 people on the island, most of them were tourists.
The five victims were among those rescued earlier, the police said. However, their nationalities have yet to be confirmed.
People are seen on a boat during the volcanic eruption at New Zealand's White Island, Dec. 9, 2019. (Photo provided by Michael Schade/Handout via Xinhua)
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said "No signs of life have been seen at any point" after helicopters and aircraft undertook a number of aerial reconnaissance flights over the island since the volcanic eruption.
Among those currently listed as missing or injured in the volcanic eruption are New Zealanders who were part of the tour operation, and tourists from some other countries, including Australia, the United States, Britain, China, and Malaysia, according to the police.
"It is now clear that there were two groups on the island -- those who were able to be evacuated and those who were close to the eruption," Ardern said in a statement.■
