New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed "unfathomable grief" Tuesday for tourists caught in a deadly eruption at the White Island volcano, where five people have died and eight more are feared dead.
Ardern held out no hope for the eight people still missing after Monday's tragedy, saying overnight aerial reconnaissance flights had found no signs of survivors.
"The focus this morning is on recovery and ensuring police can do that safely," she told a press conference.
Among the missing are tourists from Australia, the United States, Britain, China and Malaysia, as well as New Zealanders who were acting as guides.
"To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief and in your sorrow," Ardern said.
"Your loved ones stood alongside Kiwis who were hosting you here and we grieve with you."
At the time of the eruption, the island was being visited by a group of more than 30 people from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Ovation of the Seas, which left
White Island Tours said it "operates through the varying alert levels" but that "passengers should be aware that there is always a risk of eruptive activity regardless of the alert level."