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Our island volcano is erupting.

Kimi Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 9 2019, 4:40am Views: 440 Our island volcano is erupting. Whakaari / White Island is a very active volcano about 50 km off the coast of the Bay of Plenty region. When I was growing up in the coastal town of Opotiki, White Island was a constant presence, sometimes almost peaceful, other times billowing great clouds of smoke and delivering a thin layer of sulphur. I no longer live in the Bay, but it's never far from my memory. Today the volcano has had a large eruption, and among the tourists who were on the island there have been some serious injuries. Some people are still to be accounted for. A frightening time, and a sobering reminder of how quickly conditions can change. The latest. The Passing of Mistress Rose My historical novels Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there? - A Room With a View

Ethel Duath Half-elven Dec 9 2019, 4:47am Views: 401 Oh, no! Horrifying. I'm glad there weren't even more people out there--I see they've revised the numbers downward. I remember when Mt. St. Helens here in Washington state went off. Hard to fathom something so sudden, and so completely outside of our control. I'm glad you're not living near anymore.

Cirashala Valinor Dec 9 2019, 5:38am Views: 399 Prayers to everyone involved! How scary ;( I hope and pray that no one dies from this, and that the company will enact a no visitors policy whenever there is uptick in activity in the future. So scary! My writing and novels: My Hobbit Fanfiction My historical novel print and kindle version My historical novels ebook version compatible with all ereaders You can also find my novel at most major book retailers online (and for those outside the US who prefer a print book, you can find the print version at Book Depository). Search "Amazing Grace Amanda Longpre'" to find it. Happy reading everyone!

Kimi Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 9 2019, 5:44am Views: 396 One fatality confirmed so far :( //   The Passing of Mistress Rose My historical novels Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there? - A Room With a View (This post was edited by Kimi on Dec 9 2019, 5:44am)

Kimi Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 9 2019, 8:17am Views: 385 Five now confirmed to have died, c. 20 still missing. //   The Passing of Mistress Rose My historical novels Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there? - A Room With a View

Annael Immortal Dec 9 2019, 4:27pm Views: 356 but we had MONTHS of warning for Mount St. Helens the people that were killed then had been told to get out days before and refused. Did this eruption take everyone by surprise? I am a dreamer of words, of written words. I think I am reading; a word stops me. I leave the page. The syllables of the words begin to move around … The words take on other meanings as if they had the right to be young. -- Gaston Bachelard * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967 my blog: https://jodybower.com/myths-archetypes-in-film/

Ethel Duath Half-elven Dec 9 2019, 4:35pm Views: 355 It seems it was without warning from what I've read. I was living in NY when St. Helens went off, so I wasn't aware about the warnings until afterwards when they reported on it. I may be remembering wrong, but I think I remember reading that people didn't take the warnings seriously, because it had been dormant for so long, and because volcanoes in the lower 48 just didn't seem like a "thing that could happen."

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 9 2019, 7:18pm Views: 339 It's believed there are eight people still on the island, none of whom are alive. The NZ Defence Force is sending in drones this morning for another reconnaissance. Here's the latest news: https://www.stuff.co.nz/...-white-island-erupts Kimi, I had forgotten that you'd grown up on the east coast. I have to give the police plaudits for stating early that there were no signs of life on Whakaari. One of the cruelties of the Pike River Mine disaster was that families were given hope that there might be survivors when it was obvious to mine experts (including former Pike workers) that people further inside the mine could not have lived through the first explosion. The announcement about Whakaari must has been a hard one to make, but it was the right one. Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. My original fantasy writing My LOTR fan-fiction (This post was edited by Ataahua on Dec 9 2019, 7:25pm)

Annael Immortal Dec 9 2019, 8:11pm Views: 332 no It was on the news here in Washington every day in the weeks leading up. There were minor eruptions before the big one. But I don't think anyone expected it to blow the way it did, out the north side of the mountain instead of straight up. I am a dreamer of words, of written words. I think I am reading; a word stops me. I leave the page. The syllables of the words begin to move around … The words take on other meanings as if they had the right to be young. -- Gaston Bachelard * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967 my blog: https://jodybower.com/myths-archetypes-in-film/

Ethel Duath Half-elven Dec 9 2019, 9:31pm Views: 318 Oh, I meant no warning about this NZ volcano I just didn't hear them about St. Helens until after the fact. And yes, now I do remember about it blowing out the side. I read an account a long time ago about some hikers who were there at the time, but I can't remember any details.

Cirashala Valinor Dec 10 2019, 3:33am Views: 294 I know there were a few residents St. Helens was before my time, but we went to the park when I was a kid. Apparently some long-time residents refused to leave their homes and died, and I think you're right some hikers got caught up in it too. IIRC the main danger with St. Helens was the lahars/flooding, the MASSIVE landslide/explosion, and the ash and pyroclastic cloud that decimated the surrounding areas. The ash, I was told, blew all over the US. The rock from the side where it blew spewed all over the place, and 57 people died in the eruption. It's crazy to see St. Helens now after looking at the before pictures. It lost over 1200 feet (approximately 400 meters) of height O.o According to Wikipedia, the blast from that one measured 24 megatons of thermal energy. It is a constant and humbling reminder that nature is not tame. Does anyone know if there will be legal action against the tour companies for failing to heed the elevated warning levels and permitting the tours to continue? Will they be held responsible for the deaths of those who perished because of their negligence? My writing and novels: My Hobbit Fanfiction My historical novel print and kindle version My historical novels ebook version compatible with all ereaders You can also find my novel at most major book retailers online (and for those outside the US who prefer a print book, you can find the print version at Book Depository). Search "Amazing Grace Amanda Longpre'" to find it. Happy reading everyone! (This post was edited by Cirashala on Dec 10 2019, 3:34am)

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 10 2019, 4:07am Views: 289 The broad answer is no. Followed by 'in a way'. NZ's Accident Compensation Act means that people and companies can't be sued for personal injury, and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) pays for health care and rehab (in a perfect world). However companies (I'm not sure about individuals) can be charged in court with health and safety breaches. However, since the Pike River Mine disaster and the collapse of the CCTV building in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, new legislation under the Health and Safety at Work Act established 'officers' under the Act - a person who holds a very senior leadership position in an organisation and has the ability to significantly influence the management of that organisation. They can be held personally responsible for health and safety breaches. The organisation itself also has a duty of care to keep its employees safe. So, it's a little complicated, but there's no private suing through NZ courts for compensation. However, I did see speculation in a news story that passengers of the cruise ship, who booked their tickets through the US, might have a case to sue the cruise-liner. Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. My original fantasy writing My LOTR fan-fiction (This post was edited by Ataahua on Dec 10 2019, 4:14am)

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 10 2019, 4:22am Views: 285 Speaking of criminal charges... The police have opened a criminal investigation into the deaths and injuries on Whakaari/White Island. This will run alongside WorkSafe New Zealand's health and safety investigation, which (among other things) administers the Adventure Activities Regulations. Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. My original fantasy writing My LOTR fan-fiction

Annael Immortal Dec 10 2019, 4:32am Views: 283 well yes, there was old Harry Truman who wouldn't leave his cabin despite the rangers trying to get him to leave, and the geologist who was there taking pictures. I don't remember hikers getting killed, but I do remember people being caught in the ash cloud who had quite the time getting out. But the difference is that they were warned and had a choice. Sounds like the people who went to the island had no such warning. Still, nature's unpredictable. I live in an earthquake zone . . . I am a dreamer of words, of written words. I think I am reading; a word stops me. I leave the page. The syllables of the words begin to move around … The words take on other meanings as if they had the right to be young. -- Gaston Bachelard * * * * * * * * * * NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967 my blog: https://jodybower.com/myths-archetypes-in-film/

grammaboodawg Immortal Dec 10 2019, 12:38pm Views: 265 Oh no! I just saw it on the news... so terrible for those who were there and close-by. It is incredible that people were there when the signs it was building up were so apparent. But... that could be fairly normal to those who are there. I'm also scared that this means more activity throughout the islands that just started here. Prayers for those who are lost and injured. This is so sad... We have been there and back again. TIME Google Calendar

Eruonen Half-elven Dec 11 2019, 12:20am Views: 241 Agree, I remember the lead up to Mt. St. Helens for weeks and I live in Illinois. I read this White Island volcano had been giving off signs before the cruise ship entourage. There is a photo of people standing around the crater deep inside. No thanks.

Ataahua Forum Admin / Moderator Dec 11 2019, 7:48pm Views: 206 Sadly, the death toll is now eight. This doesn't include the eight bodies on the island. Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better." "Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak. My original fantasy writing My LOTR fan-fiction