Volcanic eruption today...

[Rwy in Sight]

Probably good for business. Some years ago an American tourist, whilst hanging over the side of a tourist boat up north Australia, was taken by a croc. In subsequent years tourism boomed as thousands of Americans came to see where it happened. So next year might be a good time to be running tours of the island.

May be Ex-Ascot needs to include that on his model's analyses for tourist marketing.

[G-CPTN]

The fact that tourists choose to visit volcanoes (I have, too) means that it remains an attraction - dangerous or otherwise - just as rubber-neckers flock to the site of floods (living beside a river I can vouch for this) and they drive their 4x4s along flooded roads - because they can (or sometimes can't) or when storms batter the coast folk turn out to 'experience' the waves breaking over the promenade - especially the television news-media reporters who have to be seen fighting a gale before they are taken seriously.
It's human nature - at least for many.

[TheGreenGoblin]

As a lawyer and a human at heart I know there is a case here to be answered, not least the idea that New Zealanders are so **** up their own arses that they don't really understand morality.. unlike the Aussies. who tolerate this kind of *****..



I know it is a bit dramatic, and done with a smile, but look at the hubris of NZ, ref, flights to other Volcanoes further south, and realize what you are dealing with.

Arrogant New Zealanders..

[John Hill]

And a big whakapohane to you too mate!

[Karearea]

Update from Civil Defence, Police, and the Chief Medical Officer for Counties-Manukau Health, livestreamed a few minutes ago;
the observation that stays with me is that Middlemore Hospital Burns Unit has dealt with as many patients in one day as they would normally see in twelve months;

speakers begin approx. 13mins in, video ~25mins in total:

[Slasher]

And a big whakapohane to you too mate!

I guess you had that coming Gob.

When Christchurch got flattened by an earthquake a few years ago Aussies temporarily put down their sheep jokes and showed some sympathy for the Kiwis and their dead. Unlike this event the quake wasn’t predicted and no warning could be given, but now’s not the time to sling mud at all NZers collectively mate.

[John Hill]

It is somewhat of an exaggeration to say the eruption was predicted. The level was set at 2 on a scale of 5.

[Slasher]

A Level 2 would be enough to keep me away. Any volc showing signs of even getting annoyed let alone cranky is too risky and a no-go for this poster.

[Sisemen]

And Level 2 is 100% worse than the previous Level 1.

[Pontius Navigator]

I am sure I heard one report that was level 2 to 3.

[1DC]

Don't know if you have been to NZ Gob but if you have you got a very different impression to me. A bit socialist but apart from that it must be one of the ideal places to set up home..

[probes]

Turned the boat around and went somewhere else. Questions?

Having seen none, it's hard to imagine how sudden or unexpected it can be - although probably comparable to an earthquake?
So, you're standing and observing and suddenly there's a cloud of hot stuff?

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I hadn't read a newspaper for months, so I discovered it was smoking when I came over the horizon.
It's an interesting point about suddenness also. Thinking about it, just about everything sudden and devastating in nature used to be worshipped as a God or seen as the product of a God. In fact, in insurance terms, I think such things are still called an Act of God. Humans aren't good at getting their heads around things that they cannot get an obvious warning from.

[fin]

For those with continuing interest in this event, I have a link to a website which is sort of nautical equivalent to prune. There is much activity, much of it worthless, but also some interesting perspectives and occasionally some real, useful information. Also like prune, the thread is locked!

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2 ... -eruption/

[Mrs Ex-Ascot]

The latest from the DM; https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -bill.html

What I don't understand is how this company was allowed to run these tours on an active volcano in the first place, especially as all the Health and Safety Laws are preventing an operation to recover the dead. Also it has been uninhabited for 100 years because it is too dangerous to live on. And I don't think that in this situation signing a 'blood chit' is good enough. It seems that the people were not even briefed on the emergency container, for what good it would do anyway as it seems to have been misplaced.

This is a terrible disaster that should never have been allowed to happen.

[TheGreenGoblin]

And a big whakapohane to you too mate!

I guess you had that coming Gob.

When Christchurch got flattened by an earthquake a few years ago Aussies temporarily put down their sheep jokes and showed some sympathy for the Kiwis and their dead. Unlike this event the quake wasn’t predicted and no warning could be given, but now’s not the time to sling mud at all NZers collectively mate.

I guess I did have that one coming. I tender my apologies to the Kiwis here. My comments were inappropriate.

My only interest really is to get people (wherever they are) to learn from these sad events. My initial comments didn't help that process I regret to say.

[barkingmad]

ribrash, posting # 38, more pics of downed helo over in “Rotary Ops” thread.

[Pontius Navigator]

Mrs Ex-A's link above seems pretty authoritative although they have bigged up the numbers quoting maximum fine the tour company of £750,000 which ignored the actual figure which will be $NZ. Other figures quoted are also in GBP.

I imagine that RCI will face the highest claims in US courts and not just from the victims' families but traumatised passengers whose cruise experience was ruined.

[Alisoncc]

What I don't understand is how this company was allowed to run these tours on an active volcano in the first place, especially as all the Health and Safety Laws are preventing an operation to recover the dead........
This is a terrible disaster that should never have been allowed to happen.

The same elf and sefty people who allow expats to live alongside a drying up lagoon in Africa with the stench of dead and dying animals pervading the atmosphere. Can't be healthy. We occasionally try not to be a "nanny" state.

Have read that the "island" generates $100m pa in tourist revenue for the local economy. If people are daft enough to want to go and have a look why shouldn't they. If some American court sees fit to award families of the dead mega billions of dollars, then I wish them good luck in collecting it.

PS. Various vulcanologists have been interviewed in news clips here, and without exception they all say they have been to the island. So the experts have been willingly to risk it.

[AtomKraft]

Come on!
Volcanoes do their Volcano stuff in an unpredictable manner.

If you feel it worth the risk to go right up to one, and have a look in or whatever, I can understand your curiosity.
It's a valid point of view, and extremely interesting and understandable why anyone might wish to have a personal look-see.
I've never seen molten rock, but I bet it looks fantastic!

If, the Volcano goes bang, and you get blown to ****, you've absolutely no-one to blame but yourself.