. Earth Science News .
SHAKE AND BLOW
New Zealand lays charges over volcano deaths
By Neil SANDS
Wellington (AFP) Nov 30, 2020

New Zealand's workplace safety watchdog handed down criminal charges Monday over last year's White Island volcanic eruption that claimed 22 lives and left dozens more with horrific burns.

WorkSafe had investigated why 47 people, mainly Australian tourists, were on the island in December 2019 when a column of burning ash and steam blasted from a volcanic vent.

Chief executive Phil Parkes announced charges against 10 organisations and three individuals who took tourists to the country's most active volcano just weeks after the eruption threat alert level had been raised.

"This deeply tragic event was unexpected but that does not mean it was unforeseeable," Parkes said.

"The victims, both workers and visitors alike, all had a reasonable expectation that they could go to the island knowing that the organisations involved had done all they were required to do to look after their health and safety," he added.

Parkes refused to detail who was facing charges in case the court granted them name suppression, although the identities of some were revealed through other sources.

Two tour company operators told local media that they had been charged, while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that two government agencies were also being prosecuted.

She said the agencies are GNS Science, responsible for monitoring volcanic activity, and the National Emergency Management Authority, which handles disaster planning.

"There is no easy process here but it is the job of WorkSafe to ensure that if there are questions to be answered that they lead the charge on that," she said.

"It's an independent decision for them... we really need to leave it at that."

The prosecution by WorkSafe does not carry the threat of jail time for those who took tourists sightseeing on the island, with hefty fines being the maximum penalty.

- Adventure scrutiny -

Parkes said the organisations involved could be fined up to NZ$1.5 million (US$1.1 million), with individuals facing maximum fines of NZ$300,000.

He said it was the most extensive and complex investigation his organisation had ever carried out.

A separate inquiry by the coroner's office has been running in parallel with the WorkSafe probe and could potentially result in more charges being recommended.

But it will not release any findings until the WorkSafe cases have been dealt with.

"The Chief Coroner's inquiry into the Whakaari/White Island eruption deaths remains on hold until other agencies' prosecutions have gone through the judicial process," a spokesman for the coroner said.

The disaster put the spotlight on the regulation of New Zealand's adventure tourism industry, which offers adrenaline-fuelled activities such as bungee-jumping, jet-boating and black water rafting.

Day trips to White Island were promoted to visitors, including cruise ship passengers, as a thrilling opportunity to stand on an active volcano.

But critics said New Zealand's light-touch regulatory regime meant there was little communication about the genuine risks involved.

Tourists have not been allowed on the island since the disaster and Parkes said the entire adventure tourism sector was now under scrutiny.

"WorkSafe has been reflecting on its practices and is making changes to the way that we implement the adventure activities regime," he said.


Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


SHAKE AND BLOW
New Zealand volcano toll increases as anniversary nears
Wellington (AFP) Nov 26, 2020
New Zealand police raised the official death toll from last year's White Island volcanic eruption to 22 on Thursday, adding a German national who succumbed to his injuries in July. Police said Horst Westenfelder, 64, died on July 2 from medical complications arising from injuries sustained during the eruption. There were 47 people, mainly Australian tourists, on the island - also known as Whakaari - in December 2019, when a column of burning ash and steam blasted from a volcanic vent. In ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SHAKE AND BLOW
Thanksgiving Feed-the-Troops meals to be delivered 'grab-and-go style'

Victims lament real-world violence fueled by social media

Don't cut foreign aid, Malala Yousafzai urges UK

Electric 'aero-ambulance' developed at the University of Sydney

SHAKE AND BLOW
Move over plastic: desktop 3D printing in metal or ceramics

Cracking the secrets of an emerging branch of physics

Video games are 'under-regulated': EU anti-terror czar

Russian scientists improve 3D printing technology for aerospace composites using oil waste

SHAKE AND BLOW
India Set to Launch 'Deep Sea Mission' for Exploration of Energy, Minerals

New Chinese submersible reaches Earth's deepest ocean trench

Real estate data can help policy makers anticipate urban water needs

Recent climate extremes have driven unprecedented changes in the deep ocean

SHAKE AND BLOW
Arctic animals' movement patterns are shifting in different ways as the climate changes

Iceberg A-68A: hit or miss

Climate change thinning glaciers, increasing oxygen levels at Mount Everest

Phytoplankton perform photosynthesis, bloom beneath Arctic sea ice

SHAKE AND BLOW
China imposes anti-dumping measures on Australian wine

Unilever targets 1-bn-euro sales for plant-based foods

Algae pasta, saltwater crops share million-dollar UAE prize

US agricultural water use declining for most crops and livestock production

SHAKE AND BLOW
Sardinia floods kill at least three: reports

India's southeastern coast braces for powerful cyclone

Mass evacuations hailed for casualty-free India cyclone

New Zealand volcano toll increases as anniversary nears

SHAKE AND BLOW
Burkina Faso president Kabore wins re-election in landslide

Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller travels to Somalia

Hunger crisis accelerating in southern Madagascar: WFP

Explainer: What is the Sahel and why is it so important?

SHAKE AND BLOW
Brazil fires missionary from indigenous protection program

Baby chimp gives hope for Guinea's famous ape tribe

Neanderthals' thumbs were well-suited to 'squeeze,' study says

Computer mouse movements may reveal appetite for risk-taking









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.