Criminal hearings begin against companies over New Zealand volcanic eruptions

Sydney (Australia), February 26 (EFE).- A New Zealand court began a trial this Monday in which it will hand down sentences against six companies found guilty of safety and health lapses related to the 2019 eruption of the Wakkari volcano that killed 22 people. and 25 injured.

Auckland City Environment Court Judge Evangelos Thomas will hear evidence from survivors and relatives of victims for two weeks before making a decision on possible compensation and fines.

The defendants, including the family company that manages the private island on which the volcano is located, tour operators and a government agency, could be ordered to pay fines of up to NZ$1.5 million (US$930 million) or 850 million euros.

On December 9, 2019, dozens of tourists were on or near the island when it exploded, killing 22 people — on the spot and while they were being treated for burns — and injuring 25 others.

Whakaari, one of New Zealand's most active and touristic volcanoes, erupted while on alert 2 (on a scale of 5), which expected little volcanic activity, and left 47 people, most of them tourists, stranded on the island.

During the initial hearing, Judge Thomas acknowledged the four years of “suffering” of family members and survivors during the opening.

The first testimonies were heard from Alan Inman-Marshall, who lost his son Hayden, who was working as a guide for White Island Tours when the disaster struck.

“Every morning when I wake up, I see White Island (where the volcano is located) in the distance and wonder where Hayden's body is, because he never came home,” according to a statement from Inman-Marshall, a member of Inman-Marshall read today. Victim support group.

In turn, American Lauren Barham-Ure, who was visiting Vaccari on her honeymoon with her husband Matthew during the eruption, reported having undergone more than 75 surgeries as a result of the incident.

“After waking up from a coma (…) I wished I had died in a volcanic eruption,” he said in a recorded message, public radio station Radio New Zealand reported.

In October 2023, the New Zealand justice system found Vaccari Management, the brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle responsible for the security failures, responsible for managing tourism activities related to the island. This family since 1936.

The company was accused of failing to take necessary steps to avoid death or serious injury to any person.

The other four tour companies that pleaded guilty last year to separate allegations of responsibility in the tragedy are White Island Tours, Volcanic Air Safaris, Kahu New Zealand and Aerius.

Likewise, GSN, the government body that monitors volcanic activity in New Zealand, will be charged separately next Thursday and fined NZ$500,000 (US$308,250 or €284,800).