Emergencies
Volcanic eruption in New Zealand: compensation for the victims
The eruption on the volcanic island of Whakaari/White Island in December 2019 killed 22 people. photo
© -/XinHua/dpa
At the end of 2019, a trip to a New Zealand volcanic island ended fatally for more than 20 people. Their families and survivors should now be compensated – including Germans.
More than four years after the deaths of 22 people as a result of a Following a volcanic eruption in New Zealand, a court has awarded millions in compensation to the victims’ relatives and survivors.
25 visitors were also injured in the eruption on the volcanic island of Whakaari/White Island in December 2019. In total, the 47 affected families from three companies should receive ten million New Zealand dollars (5.6 million euros) in compensation, a judge at the District Court in Auckland ruled on Friday.
It was the first fatal eruption of the 320 meter high Whakaari volcano since 1914. The Fire Mountain had been increasingly active for some time, but boats with tourists continued to travel to the island. The tour group that was there at the time of the outbreak included visitors from Germany, Australia, China, Malaysia, the USA and Great Britain. Most of the fatalities come from Australia. A 64-year-old German died from his injuries seven months after the accident in July 2020. Three Germans were injured.
Immense emotional suffering
The majority of the compensation must be borne by the owner of the island, Whakaari Management, and White Island Tours – the provider that brought the excursionists to the island by boat. The helicopter operator Volcanic Air Safaris has to pay a smaller share. All three companies and two other tour providers were also sentenced to fines.
“Very few were able to escape the outbreak without serious injuries. For the rest, the suffering was immense,” said the judge when announcing the verdict. “There is no way to measure the emotional suffering that survivors and affected families have suffered and will continue to endure.” In a case like this, reparation can only be a symbolic recognition of this suffering.
New Zealand lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on earth. Whakaari/White Island is considered the most active volcano in the Pacific state. The volcanic island is located almost 50 kilometers off the New Zealand east coast.