- Police in New Zealand are continuing their recovery effort to find the bodies of two more victims from Monday's volcanic eruption.
- The volcano on Whakaari, an island and popular tourist spot off the north coast of the country, erupted at 2:11 p.m. local time.
- So far 14 people have been confirmed dead and roughly 20 more are still being treated for burns.
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New Zealand police are resuming their search for two more bodies following this week's volcanic eruption.
The eruption took place on Monday on Whakaari (also known as White Island), an island located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) to the east off New Zealand's North Island. Whakaari is a popular tourist spot, and 47 people were on the island when the volcano erupted unexpectedly. So far 14 people have been reported dead.
Six bodies were recovered and sent back to Auckland for identification on Friday and roughly 20 people are being treated for burns in intensive care, the BBC reports.
Deputy Commissioner John Tims said in a statement that the contaminated water means divers are having to take special safety precautions. "Each time they surface, the divers are decontaminated using fresh water," he said.
Police said nine divers from the Police National Dive Squad were searching the waters around the island, and navy divers are expected to join them later. Per the BBC, police said the conditions were sub-optimal, with water visibility limited to between zero to two metres (6.5 ft).
Tims also said the teams had spotted dead fish and eels floating in the water and washed onto the shore.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the country will observe a minute's silence for the victims of the eruption at 2:11 p.m. on Monday, the same time the volcano erupted.
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