New Zealand volcano: White Island death toll expected to rise to at least 13 after ‘no signs of life’

A Malaysian and a New Zealander are among the dead, and tourists from China, Australia, the US and UK are among those missing and injured

A health ministry spokesman said not all who were hospitalised would survive, with the number of patients still in critical condition ‘in the 20s’

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The White Island eruption sent a plume of steam and ash an estimated 3.6km into the air. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:00pm, 10 Dec 2019Updated: 10:41pm, 10 Dec 2019

Unstable conditions on Tuesday hampered emergency workers from searching for at least eight people missing and feared dead after a volcano off the New Zealand coast erupted in a towering blast of ash and scalding steam while dozens of tourists explored its surface.

Six deaths have been confirmed, including a Malaysian and a New Zealander.

The Chinese embassy in New Zealand also confirmed some of its citizens were affected, saying an emergency response led by ambassador Wu Xi had been activated, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Consular officials were sent to hospital where two Chinese nationals were being treated on Tuesday. The embassy was working with local police to check if there were any Chinese among the dead.

There were 47 visitors on White Island when it erupted on Monday afternoon. Some were passengers from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas.

Authorities say there were 24 Australians, nine Americans, five New Zealanders, four Germans, two Britons, two Chinese and a Malaysian on the island when the disaster struck.