Troops land on volcano to recover bodies

The recovery mission is threatened by another eruption. #volcanoisland #nzeruption #searchandrecovery

A second airforce helicopter arrives at Whakatane airport to help with the removal of the 8 bodies of those lost in the 9 December 2019 White Island eruption, in New Zealand, on 13 December 2019. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP)

WHAKATANE, New Zealand — A team of elite New Zealand soldiers landed on a volcanic island Friday on a perilous mission to retrieve bodies left when an eruption hit visiting tour groups earlier this week, police said.

“The recovery team undertaking the operation to remove bodies on Whakaari-White Island have landed on the island,” deputy commissioner John Tims said in a brief statement, as the volcano still threatens to erupt.