UPDATE - At least 5 killed in New Zealand volcano eruption

UPDATES WITH DEATH TOLL, ADDS MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Recep Sakar and Zehra Nur Duz

MELBOURNE/ANKARA (AA) – At least five people were killed after a volcanic island erupted in New Zealand on Monday, police confirmed.

Many more were injured by the towering ashes of the White Island (Whakaari) volcano, police said in a statement, while a number of others are still missing.

Injured people have been taken to Whakatane Hospital and Middlemore Hospital, police said in a written statement.

“We continue to work as quickly as possible through a number of channels of information to confirm exact numbers of those involved, including those who remain on the island,” it added.

Both New Zealanders and overseas tourists are believed to be affected in the eruption, according to the statement.

The eruption began at 2.30 p.m. local time (1330GMT) on Monday.

New Zealand police previously said there were fewer than 50 people on or near the island at the time of the eruption.

The authorities advised residents in the region to stay in their homes and close their windows.

The volcano last erupted in 2001.

*Writing by Fahri Aksut and Zehra Nur Duz