Deadly volcanic eruption in New Zealand: charges against organizers

Deadly volcanic eruption in New Zealand: charges against organizers

Less than a year after a devastating volcanic eruption in New Zealand that killed 22 people, the local occupational health and safety authority has brought charges against 10 tour operators and three people.

During an investigation, WorkSafe New Zealand found that the organizers of the White Island trips had failed to comply with legal safety obligations, it said in a statement.

The Whakaari volcano erupted on December 9 when 47 tourists were on the small island about 50 kilometers from New Zealand’s North Island. Among them were visitors from China, the United States, Great Britain and Germany. Smoke and ash were thrown more than 3,500 meters high. The volcano had been increasingly active again for some time, but boats with tourists went there again and again. Only trained guides were allowed to enter the island.

“This was an unexpected event, but that doesn’t mean it was unpredictable. And the operators are obliged to protect the people in their charge, ”he said. The organizers and the people are now threatened with high fines.

New Zealand is located in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active area on earth. It was the first fatal eruption of the 320-meter-high Fire Mountain since 1914, when ten miners were killed. (aeg / sda / dpa)