Americans among those caught in deadly New Zealand volcano eruption

An unexpected volcanic eruption in New Zealand has trapped dozens of tourists, including several Americans. White Island, which touts itself as “New Zealand’s most active volcano,” erupted without warning on Sunday, killing five and leaving dozens trapped. Authorities reported that around 50 people were known to be on the island volcano when it erupted, but only 23 have been rescued. Authorities in New Zealand do not expect the remaining missing people to be found alive, as ash continues to hang in the air on the island. “No signs of life have been seen at any point,” according to a statement from authorities. “Police believe that anyone who could have been taken from the island alive was rescued at the time of the evacuation. Based on the information we have, we do not believe there are any survivors on the island.”

Among those who were rescued was an American couple on their honeymoon. Matthew and Lauren Urey were aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that offered White Island as one of the stops. The newlyweds were on the volcano when it shot off hot ash 12,000 feet into the air. Both were rushed to a hospital after receiving severe burns, but their families have not been updated about their conditions. They were notified that the Ureys were missing after being contacted by the cruise line. The two had called Lauren’s mother, Barbara Barham, prior to getting on the volcano. “She said they were going to the volcano,” Barham told the Washington Post. “My husband was joking around and said, ‘I hope it’s not a live volcano.’” Matthew, 36, and Lauren, 32, told her mother they "weren’t concerned that there was any chance of an eruption.” After the eruption, Matthew Urey was able to get a call out to his family, who relayed the message to Barham. “Her son called and said that they had been on the excursion and there had been a volcano eruption and they were burned very bad,” Barham explained. “He said he would try to call as soon as he could, but talking and making phone calls was difficult. His hands were so badly burned it was hard for him to make a phone call.” The Barhams haven’t heard from the couple since Urey’s phone call and have been “panicking” ever since. “I’m just livid,” Barham said. “There’s been warnings about it … My son-in-law never would have booked the excursion if he knew there was any chance of them being injured.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern issued her condolences to those impacted by the volcano, saying, “I know there will be a huge amount of concern and anxiety for those who have loved ones on or around the island at the time, and I can assure them police are doing everything they can.” She added that she hasn’t decided if visitors will be allowed on the volcano in the future, “There will be a time and a place to undertake further assessments. Now, we have to focus on allowing the police to do their job and focus on those who were in the vicinity of the island at the time.”

White Island is privately owned and not inhabited by anyone, except for frequent visits by tourists. The island is located 29 miles off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The volcano had a deadly eruption in 1912 that killed between 10 and 20 people. The last eruption that took place on White Island was in 2001.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/americans-among-those-caught-in-deadly-new-zealand-volcano-eruption

Update: Eruption on White Island – recovery operation

https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/update-eruption-white-island-%E2%80%93-recovery-operation

Restoring contact between people separated as a result of the Whakaari/White Island Eruption in New Zealand

https://familylinks.icrc.org/new-zealand/en/Pages/Home.aspx

White Island: The privately-owned New Zealand volcano that is always active

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50710998

>>7463089

Can we have the Sauce

>>7463216

Steele warned that IG report contains information previously blacked out, report says

Christopher Steele, the British ex-spy and author of the anti-Trump dossier, was reportedly told that the Justice Department will release information about him that was previously blacked out in the department’s internal watchdog report on the investigation into President Trump’s 2016 campaign due on Monday. The New York Times, citing two individuals with knowledge of the situation, reported that Attorney General William Barr approved the release of the previously redacted information in Michael Horowitz’s 400-page report. The report called Steele’s heads-up unusual and said he was not given any indication of whether the information would benefit or hurt him. An after-hours email from Fox News to the Justice Department was not immediately returned.

Steele is poised to be a notable figure in the Horowitz report because he provided opposition research into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia which was funded by Democrats and the Clinton campaign. Much of the Steele dossier has been proven discredited or unsubstantiated, including the dossier's claims that the Trump campaign was paying hackers in the United States out of a nonexistent Russian consulate in Miami, and that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen traveled to Prague to conspire with Russians. Special Counsel Robert Mueller also was unable to substantiate the dossier's claims that Carter Page, who worked on the Trump campaign, had received a large payment relating to the sale of a share of Rosneft, a Russian oil giant, or that a lurid blackmail tape involving the president existed. Horowitz's report, as described by people familiar with its findings, is expected to conclude there was an adequate basis for opening one of the most politically sensitive investigations in FBI history and one that Trump has denounced as a witch hunt. It began in secret during Trump's 2016 presidential run and was ultimately taken over by Mueller.

The report comes as Trump faces an impeachment inquiry in Congress centered on his efforts to press Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden — a probe the president also claims is politically biased. Still, the release of Inspector General Michael Horowitz's review is unlikely to quell the partisan battles that have surrounded the Russia investigation for years. It's also not the last word: A separate internal investigation continues, overseen by Trump's attorney general, William Barr and led by a U.S. attorney, John Durham. That investigation is criminal in nature, and Republicans may look to it to uncover wrongdoing that the inspector general wasn't examining. Trump tweeted Sunday: "I.G. report out tomorrow. That will be the big story!"

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/steele-warned-that-ig-report-contains-information-previously-blacked-out-report-says