WELLINGTON, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Fatality is possibly to increase in New Zealand volcanic eruption as many are in critical conditions, said New Zealand Ministry of Health spokesperson Tuesday.
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, according to a police briefing.
Thirty-one people are in seven hospitals and three have been discharged so far, according to the police.
Ministry of Health spokesman Pete Watson said at Tuesday afternoon's press conference that it is possible that not all those being treated will survive, with about 27 of the 31 suffering severe burns. Only a few are not critical.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Police has launched criminal investigation into the incident alongside the WorkSafe investigation, said New Zealand Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims.
At least two Chinese nationals are among those 47 people on New Zealand's White Island at the time of a volcanic eruption on Monday, according to a Police briefing on Tuesday.
The Chinese embassy in New Zealand has also confirmed that Chinese nationals were among those injured in the volcanic eruption, which is still awaiting further information about the injured.
The nationalities of the 47 people, most of them were tourists, are two people from Britain, four from Germany, 24 from Australia, five from New Zealand, two from China, one from Malaysia, and nine from the United States.
One of the five killed was a New Zealand tourist guide. The nationalities of the other four victims have yet to be confirmed.
An official from the Chinese embassy in New Zealand 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.
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.
"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.
Shane Cronin, a professor of Earth Sciences at University of Auckland with research interests in volcano-tectonic interactions and instability, told local media that the White Island is one of several volcanoes in New Zealand that can produce sudden explosive eruptions at any time.
"In this case, magma is shallow, and the heat and gases affect surface and ground water to form vigorous hydrothermal systems," Cronin said.
The White Island is a famous tourist attraction in New Zealand. People can explore the volcanic island by boat or by helicopter. If security conditions permit, visitors can even enter the main crater.
