New Zealand volcano: White Island's eruption in pictures

10 December 2019

An island volcano erupted while tourists were visiting on Monday in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty.

Michael Schade / Twitter New Zealand's White Island spewing steam and ash

By Tuesday, six people were confirmed dead. Eight others were feared to have died and about 30 have serious burns.

Reuters Tour guides evacuate tourists on a boat shortly after the volcano eruption on White Island

Tourist Michael Schade tweeted pictures of the eruption (seen above and below), saying: "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."

Tour guides could be seen evacuating people minutes after the eruption.

Michael Schade / Twitter White Island Tour operators rescuing people

Michael Schade / Twitter Tourists on a boat witnessing and taking photos of the volcano on New Zealand's White Island as it spews steam and ash

A photo taken by the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, below, shows the volcano from the air.

EPA / Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust An aerial photo of the volcano

A video released by New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS), screenshot seen below, shows the volcano spewing steam and ash.

EPA / GNS A video screenshot of the volcano spewing steam and ash

A combination photo from GNS, below, shows the volcano shortly before and after the eruption.

Reuters / GNS Science Combination photo shows Whakaari, also known as White Island, volcano shortly before and after eruption

Coastguard rescue boats are seen, below, next to a marina near Whakatane, about 40km (25 miles) south of White Island.

Getty Images Coastguard rescue boats are pictured alongside the marina near Whakatane

Rescue workers treated survivors in Whakatane, on the North Island's mainland.

Reuters Rescue workers treat survivors in Whakatane

On Tuesday, steam continued to rise from the White Island volcano.

Getty Images Steam rises from the White Island volcano

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern (below, centre) gave a press conference with Police Supt Bruce Bird (left) and Whakatane mayor Judy Turner.

Ms Ardern said she shared the "unfathomable grief" of those who had lost family and friends.

Getty Images New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern give a press conference with Police Sup Bruce Bird and Whakatane mayor Judy Turner

The prime minister also met first responders at the Whakatane fire station.

Getty Images Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern meets with first responders at the Whakatane Fire Station

A flag in Whakatane could be seen flying at half mast.

Getty Images A flag in Whakatane flies at half mast

In Sydney, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed media with Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Twenty-four of the people affected were from Australia.

Getty Images Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media with Foreign Minister Marise Payne

People leave tributes at the port of Tauranga, next to the cruise ship which had carried passengers to White Island when it erupted.

Getty Images People leave tributes at the Port of Tauranga

White Island, also called Whakaari, is the country's most active volcano, seen below in 1999.

Tourist Ron Neil visited the island in January 2017 and took the photos below.

Ron Neil Picture taken on White Island from January 2017

"We were obliged to wear helmets and gas masks as a condition of climbing the volcano," Mr Neil said.

"We were only allowed on the island because the risk of eruption that day was measured as 1, on a scale of 1-5.

"Still the sulphur fumes were choking."

Ron Neil Ron Neil on White Island from January 2017

Mr Neil is seen above, wearing a gas mask.