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Whakatane's mayor confident town can recover from White Island eruption

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 11 Dec 2019, 10:00AM
(Photo / Getty Images)

Whakatane's mayor confident town can recover from White Island eruption

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 11 Dec 2019, 10:00AM

Whakatane's mayor says in time, the town will recover from Monday's deadly Whakaari / White Island eruption.

The death toll from the eruption has risen to six, after another victim died in hospital overnight.

Another eight people are missing, presumed dead, while 30 victims are in hospitals around the country, many in a critical condition.

Whakatane mayor Judy Turner told Mike Hosking the town's visitor reputation will recover.

"It will take a hit, but we do specialise in adventure tourism, when people come here they don't just travel to White Island, there are other travel opportunities as well."

Turner says the community is getting through the tragedy as well as it can.

"Most of our focus is on welfare with families, with many locals also being affected by what has happened."

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