he death toll from a volcanic eruption on New Zealand's White Island in December rose to 20 on Thursday. The two people who were missing— Hayden Marshall-Inam from New Zealand and Winona Langford from Australia were officially confirmed dead.
Survivors of the disaster, mostly tourists who were in the vicinity of the volcano when it erupted are still being treated in hospitals in Australia and New Zealand for severe burns.
"The chief coroner has ruled that both Winona and Hayden died on White Island," John Tims, a deputy police commissioner, said. Official inquiries into the eruption and New Zealand's response will take up to a year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said.
Questions have been raised as to why tourists were allowed to visit the volcano even though scientists recently noted an uptick in volcanic activity. The police, in early December, had been asking people to avoid areas on the North Island that were close to the eruption. Most of the White Island volcano lies under the sea, with only the crater rising just above sea level. It is known to be an unpredictable one, that erupts with very little warning.
The island, which is home to the volcano, has been a private scenic reserve since 1953 and has more than 10,000 visitors each year.
