Five people killed in New Zealand volcano eruption

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In New Zealand, five people were killed and eight others were still missing after an island volcano popular with tourists erupted unexpectedly on Monday.

Police spokesman Bruce Bird said a helicopter has scoured the area for 45 minutes, checking if anyone was still alive but without success. He said, there are no indications that the missing people survived the explosion in the White Island volcano.

Among the missing are tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China and Malaysia, as well as New Zealanders who were acting as tour guides.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern offered condolences on behalf of the country. Arden said, 31 people who were on the island during the cataclysm were in hospital with various injuries, including serious burns. Police said, they will assess whether a recovery mission to remove bodies from the island is possible today amid the risk of further eruptions.