Ovation of the Seas captain offers counselling to passengers after Whakaari/White Island eruption

Tuesday, 10 December 2019

People arrive at the Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae, a welcoming point for families after the Whakaari/White Island eruption.

Passengers have been offered counselling after multiple passengers have died and are injured following Whakaari/White Island eruption on Monday.

The captain of the Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas cruise ship made the public announcement at 8am over the ship's PA system.

At least five people are dead with eight others reported missing and authorities fearing the worst after the volcano erupted Monday at a popular tourist site in the Bay of Plenty.

**READ MORE:

The Ovation of the Seas is still in Tauranga.

* White Island: 47 people were on the island when it erupted, leaving at least five dead

* What it's like to survive a volcano: White Island brings back memories for Mt Ruapehu survivor

* Police won't launch overnight searches on 'unstable' White Island due to risk of further eruption

Flowers have been laid outside the entrance to the Port of Tauranga.

* Police say no survivors are left on White Island after eruption in the Bay of Plenty

* White Island eruption: GeoNet takes down cameras while search and rescue operation under way

* How dangerous is White Island? New Zealand's most active volcano**

Several dozen visitors, including some from the cruise ship, were on or near White Island when it erupted at 2.11pm local time, releasing thick clouds of ash about 12,000 feet into the air.

Families of victims are invited to stay at Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae in Whakātane.

Guests aboard the ship, which would not be leaving Tauranga for the foreseeable future, shared social media postings of the announcement from the captain:

'Any guests that may have been injured are being cared for in local hospitals local staff members from both our ship and our local offices are with impacted guests and family members to ensure they are being taken care of and that they are as comfortable as possible,' the captain can be heard saying.

'We're doing everything possible to help them.

'The company asks that you keep these guests, crew and their families in your thoughts and prayers this has been an unfathomable sequence of events if you feel the need for counselling or someone to talk to we are here to provide this to you and to support you pleased contact guest services and we will arrange for you to see a counsellor on board.'

The Ovation of the Seas was scheduled to leave Monday night.

A makeshift shrine has been placed at the port of Tauranga, where the ship is berthed, with members of the public placing flowers in remembrance of those who died on White Island

Meanwhile in Whakatane, whānau and support people of those who are injured and missing have been welcomed onto Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae.

About 100 people have gathered inside the wharenui for karakia, including Labour MP Tāmati Coffey, and White Island Tours chairman Paul Quinn.

The whānau of a young man still believed to be on the island have gathered at Whakatāne wharf. The young man is a tour guide who had only been in the job a few months.

We're here to manaaki anyone that needs it, a spokesman said.

The marae is directly next to White Island Tours, across from the wharf. It's a short stroll from Whakatāne Heads.