Raoul Is searchers prepare to sail, missing DoC worker named

Steam rises from the Raoul Island volcano. Picture / John Funnell, Tenon Rescue Helicopter

Police have named the Department of Conservation worker missing after a volcanic eruption on Raoul Island yesterday.

He is Mark James Kearney, 32, from Wellington.

Five DoC staff were flown to Auckland by helicopter from the island, 1000km north of New Zealand, last night.

They are team leader Jim Livingstone, and rangers Morgan Cox, Melanie Nelson, Evan Ward and Lynda McGrory-Ward.

A police spokesman said today an initial ground search of the island by DoC staff and a thorough search by the rescue helicopter were unable to locate Mr Kearney.

A mission to assess the status of Raoul Island and for police to assess the feasibility of locating Mr Kearney is being mounted by police and DoC with assistance from GNS Science.

The team will travel to Raoul by boat. The boat is expected to leave within 24 hours and will take three days to reach Raoul.

The team will only land on the island if they decide it is safe based on visual checks and updates on seismic activity.

The eruption on the island happened about 8.30am yesterday and it is believed Mr Kearney was at its epicentre.

- NZPA