“Based on the information we have, we do not believe there are any survivors on the island.
“Police is working urgently to confirm the exact number of those who have died, further to the five confirmed deceased already.”
The current Volcanic Alert Level for New Zealand is Level 3.
Could the New Zealand eruption awaken the supervolcano Taupo?
Taupo Volcano is a large and partially filled supervolcano hidden away at the heart of New Zealand’s North Island.
Locals recognise the filled caldera as the beautiful Lake Taupo but hidden beneath is one of the world’s most active supervolcanoes.
The supervolcano began erupting around 300,000 years ago and its present-day features were created by a major blast around 27,000 years ago.
