An investigation into the New Zealand volcano eruption that killed 22 people has begun.

Sydney (Australia), July 10 (EFE).- A New Zealand court opened a trial on Tuesday against three tourism companies and the owners of the private island where the Wakkari volcano is located, where 22 people died when it erupted in 2019. Place.

The companies and three brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, who run the private island – in family hands since 1936 – through a trust, face accusations of breaching the country’s health and safety regulations by allowing day trips from eruptions during the volcano’s activity. was too much.

The three companies are: Wakkari Management, run by Buttles, and tour operators IT Tours New Zealand and Tauranga Tourism Services.

If convicted during the 16-week trial in Auckland, defendants could be fined up to NZ$1.5 million (about US$930,000 or €850,000).

“The main thing for us is that the owners of the island are charged and that they and the tourism company are held accountable,” said Meredith Tallow, who lost her brother Gavin and her 15-year-old stepson. Joe Hosking- In this tragedy.

“No one should have been there that day. No one should have been on the island, period,” Tallow said in reports released today by Australian public broadcaster ABC.

Wakkari, one of New Zealand’s most active and touristic volcanoes, erupted when it was at Alert 2 (out of 5) for mild volcanic activity and left 47 people, most of them international tourists, stranded on the island on December 9, 2019.

New Zealand authorities in 2020 filed lawsuits against ten organizations — some of them the government — and three executives for their actions or inaction in the face of the volcanic eruption that led to the tragedy.

Since then, six tour operators have pleaded guilty and been fined for doing so, while another company has denied its charges.