The three brothers who own New Zealand’s Whakaari White Island where 22 people died in a volcanic eruption in 2019 have had charges against them dismissed in an Auckland court. Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, their company Whakaari Management Ltd and tour operators ID Tours NZ Ltd and Tauranga Tourism Services Ltd went on trial in July for allegedly failing to adequately protect tourists and staff. The deadly White Island eruption. Of those killed, 14 were Australians, five were Americans, two were New Zealanders and one was a German, with prosecutors alleging that the eruption at the popular tourist destination was not predictable but was foreseeable. There were 47 people on the island when the volcano erupted, many of whom were badly burnt by searing gas and ash.

Source: Stuff September 05, 2023 14:21 UTC