Gas masks protected the lungs of people caught in the Whakaari/White Island eruption, a surgeon believes. Gas masks, such as the one pictured, were supplied to those on tours to Whakaari/White Island. "What we learned later, from the people who went out there, was most of [the tourists] had gas masks on," he said. They put their gas masks firmly on their faces and closed their eyes and tried to get through it." The gas masks given to those on White Island tours have been described as little more than props, with a health and safety expert saying a full-face mask would be more appropriate.

Source: Stuff December 19, 2019 07:18 UTC