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+--- Thread: Why are tourists allowed on the island? (NZ volcanic eruption) (/thread-7922.html)
Why are tourists allowed on the island? (NZ volcanic eruption) - C C - Dec 9, 2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50715047
EXCERPT: The island, also known as Whakaari, is privately owned and is typically visited by thousands of tourists every year, despite the fact that it has been erupting in some form since 2011. Geological hazard monitors GeoNet pass on information about the volcano's activity to tour operators and the police, but tourists make their own decisions about whether to visit. Visitors are supplied with hard hats and gas masks to protect against sulphurous steam and must have suitable footwear to make the tour, according to New Zealand website Stuff.
The owners of Whakatane-based company White Island Tours are the official guardians of the island, which was declared a private scenic reserve in 1952, and they grant access through designated tour operators. According to the New Zealand Herald, White Island Tours warned on its website that visitors "should be aware that there is always a risk of eruptive activity regardless of the alert level", while stating it followed a "comprehensive safety plan which determines" its activities on the island "at the various levels".
Company chairman Paul Quinn said the event on the island had been a "terrible tragedy" and the company's "thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been impacted". ... Last Tuesday GeoNet warned of a heightened level of activity at the site, but also said that "the current level of activity does not pose a direct hazard to visitors". White Island has seen several eruptions over the years, most recently in 2016 but no-one was hurt in that event.
White Island: The privately-owned New Zealand volcano that is always active
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50710998
RE: Why are tourists allowed on the island? (NZ volcanic eruption) - Zinjanthropos - Dec 9, 2019
Why? More content for The Darwin Awards series perhaps? Gas masks as standard visitor equipment might suggest your life could be in danger or maybe it’s the smoke from smaller eruptions. Is it money? Tour operators: Once the lawsuits are settled and insurance premiums rise, how much profit we talking about? Someone at GeoNet getting a cut for favourable foresight? They obviously don’t operate at 100% efficiency.
Thoughts and prayers for an act of God always questionable IMHO. Too late anyhow. I think the whole adventure was very risky and this loss of life preventable. Would you get on a smoking plane?