White Island survivors describe carnage after New Zealand volcano erupts

Survivors from the volcanic eruption in New Zealand have described their terrifying ordeal.

Up to 30 people are feared dead after ‘White Island’ blew up at around 2.10pm, while tourists were visiting the site.

Horrifying footage shows the aftermath of the eruption from on board a boat, in which survivors are urged to get inside as a giant ash cloud races across the island, also known as Whakaari.

50 people were on the island at the time of the incident, police said. They added that 23 had escaped, including 5 dead, but said that there was no further ‘sign of life’.

On Twitter, Michael Schade wrote: ‘My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001.

‘My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable.’

Sharing footage of the incident as a boat raced away from the site, he continued: ‘This is so hard to believe. Our whole tour group were literally standing at the edge of the main crater not 30 minutes before.

‘My thoughts with the families of those currently unaccounted for, the people recovering now, and especially the rescue workers.’

People on board a boat are heard shouting ‘oh my god, go, go, go, go, we’ve got to get out of here’ as the ash cloud approaches.

Sharing footage on Twitter, ‘Dina’, wrote: ‘This is video we were taking as our boat tried to get us a safe distance before going back for survivors.

‘It didn’t dawn on us right away what had just happened or that there were still people were still on the island.’

Provider: Allessandro Kauffmann/Instagram

Another tourist, Aline Moura, shared a number of videos on Instagram and explained: ‘This was the end of today’s trip that I had. The beginning was excellent, lots of cool pictures, amazing experience…

‘But nature is autonomous and man has no control over his will.

‘Surely we never forget that day. Let us pray that everyone will be fine.’

Her partner, Brazilian Allessandro Kauffmann, also shared a series of Instagram stories and added: ‘Some people have extensive burns on their bodies. Two tours on the volcano. Ours was the first. The other one right after…

‘We left the island and wasn’t even five minutes before it erupted. This other tour that arrived after couldn’t leave in time.’

Royal Caribbean International have confirmed that passengers from its ship Ovation of the Seas passengers were visiting the island.