Whakaari/White Island eruption: How victims will likely be identified

Tuesday, 10 December 2019

Number of missing in 'double digits' as police say finding survivors unlikely after eruption on White Island.

The Disaster Victim Identification process will likely go ahead following the eruption of Whakaari/White Island on Monday.

At least five people have died with a further eight remaining missing on the island, presumed dead.

A meticulous five-step exercise, the DVI process begins at the scene with the unnamed deceased and ends – it is hoped – with the identification of that person and the return of their body to their family members.

In a mass-fatality event, all victims begin as unknown, unnamed people.

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The DVI process, followed the same way globally, aims to make sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that the right identity is assigned to the right body.

If the remains are able to be removed from the scene they will be placed in a mortuary where the post-mortem phase begins.

How the mortuary is set up varies depending on the event.

In the case of the Christchurch shooting, the room was set up with two sets of five gurneys, each one marking a different stage in the process.

The first gurney is for property, jewellery, personal effects and clothing which had been removed from the deceased.

White Island as seen from the air during the eruption which occurred as a tour party was visiting the volcanic island.

Each object is labelled with the same DVI number of the body it came from.

The items were photographed before removal and, once removed, cleaned, rephotographed and secured alongside the deceased.

The next gurney is for taking fingerprints and footprints.

The bodies are then moved to the third gurney, where an external examination was carried out by the pathologists.

Scars and tattoos can offer clues as to who the deceased is.

Autopsies are then performed, with any surgical removals – such as the appendix or gall bladder – noted. Anything which can assist the coroner to establish the identity is recorded.

On the fourth gurney the full dental examination takes place by a forensic odontologist.

With people who suffer catastrophic injuries, even the smallest bone fragment or tooth can shed light on who they belong to.

The final step is where paperwork is completed and quality control done.

At the same time as the mortuary process is underway, police collect antemortem evidence.

This involves police interviewing victims' families to get information about identifying features as well as retrieving DNA evidence from hair brushes, or fingerprints from their homes.

The strands of postmortem and antemortem is then put to the coroners in a formal identification hearing.

During the identification hearings the coroner sits in a pseudo courtroom. After reading, or listening, to the evidence, the coroner makes a determination.

If they aren't satisfied, then the DVI commander is tasked with producing more evidence.

Once the coroners are satisfied that the identity of a body, or body part, had been confirmed, they can order the release to a family.