Search teams are today desperately trying to reach eight people feared dead as emergency officials say they do not expect to find any survivors.
Forty-seven tourists from Australia, the UK, the US, Malaysia and China were on the volcano 50km off New Zealand's north island when it erupted with a large plume of ash and steam at 2.11pm on Monday.
At least four helicopters took off from mainland New Zealand, including a Westpac rescue aircraft, a Volcanic Air helicopter and two private choppers as pilots risked their lives to save others.
In total, 34 people made it off the island by helicopter or boat, all with injuries of various descriptions, most often burns. Thirty-one are still in hospital and three have been discharged.
Paramedics were traumatised by the horrific injuries they had seen with some victims suffering burns to 90 per cent of their bodies.
Thirteen Australians are known to be in hospital and 11 are either missing, dead or otherwise unaccounted for, Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday morning....<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...
