2 Chinese nationals among those injured in New Zealand volcanic eruption

WELLINGTON - At least two Chinese nationals were among those 47 people on New Zealand's White Island at the time of a volcanic eruption on Monday, the New Zealand police said on Tuesday.

The Chinese nationals were also among those injured in New Zealand volcanic eruption, according to the Chinese embassy in New Zealand, which is still awaiting further information about the Chinese tourists injured in the volcanic eruption.

The nationalities of the 47 people, most of them were tourists, are two people from Britain, four from Germany, 24 from Australia, five from New Zealand, two from China, one from Malaysia, and nine from the United States.

Five people had been confirmed dead so far, and eight others were still missing, presumed dead, in the volcanic eruption on White Island in the Eastern Bay of Plenty of the North Island on Monday, with more casualties likely, according to the police.

Thirty-one people were in seven hospitals and three had been discharged so far, the police said.

The five victims were among those rescued earlier, the police said. One of the five victims was a New Zealand tourist guide. The nationalities of the other four victims have yet to be confirmed.