Wellington, Dec 13 (UNI) New Zealand military teams on Friday braved corrosive gases and the risk of another eruption to recover six bodies from volcanic White Island in a daring mission.
Aircraft and divers were still searching for another two bodies, with police saying they now believe at least one of them is in the sea around the island.
All of the bodies recovered so far are expected to be those of Australian tourists who were visiting the island at the time of Monday's eruption, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said.
"We will continue to search for these people," New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.
The six bodies were loaded on to helicopters and flown to HMNZS Wellington, New Zealand Police deputy commissioner John Tims said.They will be returned to the mainland before being transferred to Auckland.
The recovery operation was started on early Friday morning by New Zealand Defence Force. Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement said the rescuers wore protective equipment and scientists were offering minute by minute advice.
Drones had located the six bodies before the mission began, but Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement had warned on Thursday that there would be 'very limited' opportunity to search for the other two.
Previously, New Zealand police had ruled out going to the island because of fears the volcano could erupt again, but faced growing pressure from families desperate to see their loved ones' bodies returned.
Members of the victims' families attended a blessing ceremony at sea before the mission began.
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