It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature. You’ll only get in deeper trouble. Here’s an example. We were watching a Netflix show the other night about the time where, in New Zealand, the country was taken by surprise by an completely unexpected volcano eruption. On 9 December 2019, Whakaari / White Island, an active stratovolcano island in New Zealand’s northeastern Bay of Plenty region, explosively erupted. The island was a popular tourist destination, known for its volcanic activity, and 47 people were on the island at the time. Twenty-two people died, either in the explosion or from injuries sustained, including two whose bodies were never found, later declared dead. The remaining 25 people suffered injuries, with the majority needing intensive care for severe burns.[4] Continuing seismic and volcanic activity, together with heavy rainfall, low visibility and the presence of toxic gases, hampered recovery efforts over the week following the weeks and months.
Following the eruption, investigations resulted in WorkSafe New Zealand charging the owners of the island and multiple tour operators as well as government and scientific agencies under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 for failing to ensure the health and safety of workers and others As of July 2023, the charges against two government agencies have been dismissed or dropped and five tour operators have pleaded guilty to health and safety charges. The trial of six remaining defendants (three individual owners of the island and three tour operating companies) commenced on 11 July 2023. In early September 2023, Judge Evangelos
Thomas dismissed the individual charges against the island’s owners Peter, Andrew, and James Buttle but upheld the charges against their company Whakaari Management Limited (WML).[11] On 12 September, Thomas dismissed the charges against co-defendants Tauranga Tourism Services (TTSL) and ID Tours, reducing the number of defendants to one.[ On 31 October, WML was convicted of one health and safety charge relating to the eruption. Needless to say, heads rolled and the city changed forever. Of course, nowadays, the destination has changed, the volcano still simmers and it’s one of those adventures that you should see. Our Affiliate partners, Viator, can get you there. Click here
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If you’re worried, World Nomads does cover unexpected natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions and ash clouds. However, coverage depends entirely on the plan you choose and when you purchase the policy relative to the volcanic activity. Even better, their insurance for seniors (often dubbed “Silver Nomads” aged 70+) through partners like TripAssure, providing critical coverage for emergency medical expenses ($10M+), medical evacuation ($500k+), and trip cancellation. Key considerations include limited pre-existing condition coverage, 24/7 assistance, and flexibility to buy or extend policies while already Click here