New Zealand: Justice considers the killing of two tourists during a volcanic eruption

In December 2019, the sudden eruption of a volcano in New Zealand plunged dozens of tourists under its smoldering ashes: the trial of tourism and real estate companies began on Tuesday for non-compliance with safety rules.

22 people out of a group of about 50 people, mostly Australian tourists, were killed and others were injured or seriously burned in the “massive eruption” of the volcano on New Zealand’s White Island, also a tourist destination called Whakaari.

Six parties, including two tourism companies and the island’s owners, Whakaari Management Limited, have been accused of breaching health and safety rules in the lead-up to the disaster.

The explosion in northeastern New Zealand on December 9, 2019 killed 22 people and injured dozens, prompting a major medical operation during which the victims were treated at burn treatment centers in New Zealand and Australia.

“This volcanic eruption was a massive explosion,” prosecutor Christy McDonald told Auckland Magistrates’ Court.

It added that this led to an outpouring of “burning ash, scorching sea, toxic volcanic ash and boulders thrown from the bottom of the crater”. She recalls that “the stream of lava swept away all those who were on the volcano, at an estimated speed of about 60 km / h.”

While the companies being sued deny any wrongdoing, the prosecution believes the family that owns the island “exploited every tourist”, earning NZ$1 million (562,000 euros) a year before the disaster.

The management of the island did not conduct a proper risk assessment, did not provide personal protective equipment and did not establish evacuation routes, which again led to criticism from the public prosecutor.

“The end result is that tourists and staff have traveled to the crater of an active volcano without being properly informed of the risks,” McDonald added.

Video footage shown in court shows people trying to flee a huge cloud of volcanic ash, which soon engulfs them. In one sequence, a guide observing an eruption yells at tourists, “Go fast.” Some get stuck in their desperate journey.

The companies face fines of up to NZ$1.5 million (840,000 euros). The trial is expected to last several weeks.

Six other companies have already pleaded guilty to similar charges, including White Island Tours, which ferried 21 of the dead to the volcanic site by boat, and Volcanic Air Safaris, which transported a tourist who died in the disaster.

In May 2022, a judge cleared the New Zealand Emergency Management Agency of any breach of health and safety rules.

Since the eruption, no boat or plane excursions have been allowed on the island.