CBS
A team of eight New Zealand military specialists will land on a small volcanic island just after first light Friday to attempt to retrieve the bodies of eight victims of an eruption that claimed eight other lives. New Zealand police said late Thursday the recovery attempt would go ahead even though scientists believe another eruption is possible on White Island. Steam and mud are emitting from its active vents and volcanic tremors are rising, volcanologists said. More
It seems almost daily that another survive dies from their burns received when the Island erupted earlier this week. Most recently, a pair of brothers from Chicago succumbed to their injuries, raising the death toll to 16. More
New Zealand medical authorities have ordered 120 square meters (about 1,292 square feet) of skin to treat those victims of the super heated gas and ash. More
I admire the valor of the recovery team, but retrieving the remains of rash people who died after knowingly exposing themselves to deadly peril is not a worthy objective for such valor.
Uncle Al, I heard the media referring to the killed and injured as “explorers”. I think a better term is tourists.
The cost savings part of me thinks about this episode as a free cremation…..
Lazlo agrees with Uncle Al,
I went to Mount Lassen a while back, the thought of how unpredictable volcanoes are got me thinking of how my chances of being eaten by tigers goes way down if I am assiduous about my avoidance of places that tigers might be.
Why?
If “explorers” decide to jump into a live volcano why would any government be willing to sacrifice the nonstupid for the remains of the stupid?
These bravado infused retards paid good money to cremate themselves. Who are we to
interfere with their last wishes? Did the Maiori send the NZs up the mountain with a bottle of their favorite sauce and a basting brush?
They are American fed Prime, after all.
Risk, reward. You decide.
I would argue that the NZ government owes the families of the victims an attempt to recover the bodies, for allowing anyone on the Island when it was so obviously a danger.
Of course, I also expect a number of class action lawsuits are already being filed against the government and anyone else responsible for this. I’m not sure what kind of compensation victim’s families can expect in NZ courts. I imagine recovering the body of a loved one goes somewhat towards making up for their avoidable deaths.
These are the prime contenders for the next Darwin Award of the year candidacy.
I’m not aware of a military specialty that makes you impervious to volcanic activity.
Florida men and women in New Zealand?
Send obama, Pelosi, biden etc – that way, if there is another explosion, there will be no losses.
Update: Weather Channel claims they’ve recovered 6 of the 8 missing. Since they’re on the other side of the world, our evening is their morning.
https://weather.com/news/news/2019-12-12-new-zealand-white-island-volcano-eruption-military-recovers-bodies.NZ
They need 1,292 square feet of human skin to treat the victims. Ironically, Rosie O’Donald could donate the entire amount by herself, if only she was dead.
@ Tony R – “…if only she was dead.”
That seems unnecessarily arbitrary.
From Dr. Tar: “I would argue that the NZ government owes the families of the victims an attempt to recover the bodies, for allowing anyone on the Island when it was so obviously a danger.”
Are you saying the government is the only (human) agency that recognized the danger of an active volcano? That the government knows things that people as individuals in this case cannot know?
I disagree with you. It is never the role of government to prevent people from doing stupid things. Ever.
The stupid shall be punished. Sorry. You ‘victims’are stupid. You are at level one (being lowest) on
the recovery priority list.
Polishing brass and cleaning rifles would be a better use of their time.
Why risk the lives of these good men to retrieve bodies in danger??? Leave them be, to be buried in the next eruption.
Tie Michelle Obama to the front bumper of the rescue vehicle, to absorb any blast.
This place could use a regular “Ask Uncle Al” post. Uncle Al is brilliant.
@Redacted – Oh, my! Thank you for your kind words.
@Redacted – great idea!
ASK UNCLE AL:
Hey Unkie – can you do differential equations in your head without using that slide rule looped over your belt and the pens in your pocket protector?
Maybe a safer mission than confiscating firearms?
@Zonga – No! LOL. But I can usually factor four-digit numbers in my head in under 10 seconds.
I can’t find my pocket protectors but I still have both of my slipsticks.