Six deaths were confirmed after Monday’s eruption of the White Island volcano. Experts said there was a 50 percent chance of another small eruption within a day and rescue teams did not want to take any chances. The tragedy will have an ongoing effect on the town of Whakatane, which road signs tout as the gateway to White Island. Whether the island would ever host tourists again remains uncertain after the tragedy that unfolded when the volcano exploded a little after 2pm on Monday. He told the New Zealand Herald the eruption at first looked beautiful, but quickly turned menacing.

Source: Taipei Times December 10, 2019 15:56 UTC