White Island, an active volcano off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, erupted suddenly on December 9, killing at least 18 people, mostly tourists. A total of 47 day-trippers were on the island when the explosion occurred, and many survivors suffered serious burns. Poisonous gases emanated from the volcanic vent and the eruption blanketed the island in a thick layer of acidic ash. The waters around the island were contaminated, and divers reported seeing dead fish and eels washed ashore or floating in the water. White Island is New Zealand’s most active volcano cone and about 70% of it is under the sea. It has erupted frequently over the last half-century, most recently in 2016. Did you know New Zealand comes under a seismically-active region called the Ring of Fire? Regions under this belt are prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruption.
Picture Credit : Google