CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
Thirty-seven Australian Federal Police (AFP) members who responded to the New Zealand’s Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption, have been recognised for their outstanding dedication and devotion during a ceremony in Canberra.
Just after 2pm on 9 December 2019, the Whakaari/White Island volcano erupted. At the time, there were 47 people on the island, a popular tourist destination.
Sadly, 22 people lost their lives, including 17 Australians, and just as many were seriously injured.
The minutes, hours and days following a natural disaster are critical. The AFP joined an operation to support the New Zealand Police response to the catastrophic incident.
“The members worked under pressure and confronting circumstances, to recover and identify victims and provide support for families and surviving victims. Access to the scene was difficult, with teams dealing with extreme rain and toxic gases from the volcano,” the AFP said in a statement.
“Our thoughts remain with the bereaved families, friends, the survivors and all those that responded to the incident.”
