The Shocking True Story Of The Whakaari / White Island Eruption

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the horrific Whakaari/White Island Eruption. We’ll be discussing the catastrophic 2019 eruption in New Zealand, and its aftermath. This is a terrible tale involving great suffering, which continues to be litigated in court as of 2022. It is a very important story that has had, and will continue to have, an impact on modern tourism. Please be advised that there is disturbing content that follows. Volcanoes are irresistible to many people. And as Icarus found out the terrible way in Greek mythology, devastating consequences can follow when you get too close to a very dangerous destination. Of course, modern volcano tourism is supposed to be safe. But with adventure being a selling point for New Zealand tourism, a little danger is part of the appeal. On December 9, 2019, though, tourists visiting Whakaari got more danger — much, much more — than they bargained for. Within a few minutes, a vacation literally went up in smoke and numerous lives were lost. It would be New Zealand’s most fatal volcanic tragedy since Mount Tarawera’s eruption in 1886. Located just roughly 30 miles from New Zealand’s North Island’s east coast, this active andesite stratovolcano has been privately owned by Buttle Family Trust since 1953. The island’s Maori name is Te Puia o Whakaari, which translates to “The Dramatic Volcano.” Between 1976 and 2000, the island regularly endured eruptions. Although things calmed down going into the 21st century, eruptions still occurred in 2012 and 2016. While unauthorized visitors couldn’t land on the island, tourist organizations made Whakaari a hot spot. It’s been advertised as “New Zealand’s most active volcano,” even popping up in blockbuster franchises like “The Lord of the Rings.” White Island Tours didn’t exactly hide the risks involved. Not long before the 2019 eruption, the website warned patrons of an Alert Level 2, indicating “moderate to heightened volcanic unrest” and “potential for eruption hazards to occur.” However, the warning noted that “White Island Tours follows a comprehensive safety plan which determines our activities on the island at the various levels.” This seemed to suggest that the risks were minimal and measures would be taken to ensure a safe trip. After all, almost 20,000 people visited annually for over three decades. Children took school trips to the island. What were the odds that this trip would go awry? Well… according to volcanologist Jozua van Otterloo, “it was an accident waiting to happen.” Nobody was prepared at 14:11 NZDT (or 2:11 PM local time) when the eruption occurred. 38 of the 47 people on the island were Ovation of the Seas passengers on a 12-day cruise. The cruise’s online promotion read “get close to the drama.” But they didn’t expect this drama. The ash plume skyrocketed almost 12,000 feet above the vent with some people reportedly standing close by. According to University of Auckland volcanologist Shane Cronin, a steam blast alone can be fatal for those in the vent’s vicinity. While there were fewer visitors than the initially estimated 100 people, a substantial number wouldn’t leave the island alive. Even the ones who did were far from out of the woods. 23 people were rescued with help from tour operators. A trio of nearby helicopter pilots was responsible for retrieving 12. Controversially, rescue crews didn’t arrive until two and half hours after the eruption, due to safety concerns. Several of the rescued victims would succumb to the injuries by the end of December. By January 2020, 21 victims were declared dead. The final victim, Horst Westenfelder of Germany, died on July 2, 2020, from medical complications while being treated for his injuries. Although the official death toll is 22, two people were never found: Australian teenager Winona Langford and New Zealand tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, who were both presumed dead. 25 of the 47 island visitors survived, although they all received injuries, with many being seriously burned. Most of the victims were from Australia, while others hailed from New Zealand, the US, Europe, and Asia. Volcanic scientist Shane Cronin described the eruption as “probably the actual worst-case scenario.” What makes the incident all the more tragic is that the warning signs had been present and largely underestimated. Geoff Kilgour of GNS Science noticed localized surface deformation, although this didn’t necessarily confirm massive pressure build-up. Tourist companies saw rises in gas emissions and seismic rumblings, but this only warranted slightly raised alert levels. GeoNet, which monitors New Zealand’s geological activity, deemed the island safe to visit. Clearly, the island was misrepresented, but who shares a majority of the responsibility? By November 2020, WorkSafe New Zealand had charged 13 parties. Seven were tourist companies, including White Island Tours. The decision to prosecute Kahu NZ Limited, Volcanic Air Safaris Limited, and Aerius Limited was met with controversy, as their helicopter pilots aided in the rescue. A petition collected thousands of signatures to get charges against them dropped. GNS Science, National Emergency Management Agency, and Whakaari Management Ltd rounded out the 10 organizations charged. The final three were individuals: Andrew, James, and Peter Buttle, who oversaw Whakaari Management. All 13 initially pleaded not guilty for health and safety breaches, although Flight operator Inflite eventually entered a guilty plea, being fined over $200,000. WorkSafe New Zealand didn’t file charges against Ovation of the Seas. However, the cruise’s operator, the Miami-based Royal Caribbean International, and ID Tours have faced legal action for negligence. In any other year, the Whakaari eruption might’ve been the most talked-about news story. Of course, this all happened just as the COVID-19 pandemic was getting started. Had the eruption only occurred a few months later, cruises likely would’ve been canceled and lives might’ve been saved. On the incident’s first anniversary, survivors, rescue workers, and loved ones of the deceased gathered in Whakatāne, which was just off White Island’s shore. At precisely 2:11 PM, they shared a moment of silence. New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and governor-general Dame Patsy Reddy were also present. There was no official ceremony the following year, with some feeling that the pandemic hadn’t allowed people to properly grieve. “60 Minutes Australia” has extensively covered the eruption and its aftermath, interviewing several survivors in November 2020. In June 2022, the program interviewed survivor Stephanie Browitt, who spent two weeks in a coma and six months in a hospital upon receiving third-degree burns to 70% of her body. Her 21-year-old sister Krystal and father Paul didn’t survive. It’d be two-and-a-half years until Browitt was able to remove her compression bandage. Browitt and her mother are among those suing Royal Caribbean. In May 2022, the National Emergency Management Agency won an appeal to drop the charges against the company. The Buttle family is also attempting to get the charges against them dropped. The defendants are expected to face trial in 2023, and could receive a maximum fine of $1.5 million if convicted. As for Whakaari itself, on-land tours have been off-limits since the 2019 eruption, but you can still take a scenic flight of the island. After everything that’s happened, though, should Whakaari be condemned altogether? The island was a major tourist attraction for years. With a new alert system and more precautions, could Whakaari’s reputation be restored? Or is that just another disaster waiting to happen? What do you think? Would you risk another horror like this just to get near a volcano? Or do you think it’s been proven to be far too risky, and would dishonor those whose lives were lost? Different travelers might have different answers.