WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Prosecutors have stated that tour booking agents and island managers in New Zealand failed to adequately prepare and warn visitors about the risks before a volcanic eruption killed 22 people, mostly tourists, in 2019. This negligence has resulted in an ongoing criminal trial that commenced on Tuesday. The victims primarily consisted of tourists from countries such as Australia, the U.S., and Malaysia. At the time of the eruption, there were 47 individuals on the island who suffered severe burns from the scorching gas and ash.
In November 2020, the workplace regulator pressed charges against 13 parties involved in the incident, but six of them, including the helicopter and boat tour operators, have already pleaded guilty. Notably, charges against the National Emergency Management Agency were dismissed. The trial focuses on the five parties that pleaded not guilty. This includes the island’s management company, the three directors of said management company, and two companies that operated booking agents for the tours.
During the trial, Worksafe prosecutor Kristy McDonald emphasized that company leaders responsible for managing the island did not adequately assess the potential dangers for visitors. Additionally, the booking agents failed to provide sufficient information regarding the risks. McDonald informed the court, “The volcano is highly unpredictable. It could erupt at any time without warning. No one is suggesting that the timing of this eruption could have been predicted … but it was foreseeable that it may erupt at some point.”
White Island, also known as Whakaari in the indigenous Maori language, lies about 50 km (31 miles) offshore from the town of Whakatane on the east coast of the North Island. The last significant eruption occurred in 2016. Currently, tourists are no longer allowed to visit the island due to safety concerns.
Defence lawyers representing the accused parties argued that their clients should not be held responsible for the safety of those on the island as that duty belongs to others. The trial, overseen by a judge, is estimated to last for 16 weeks and will involve testimonies from several eruption victims. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
