New Zealand death toll rises to 16 after two hospitalized victims die

Authorities in New Zealand added two more people to the death toll following Monday's volcanic eruption, bringing the number of dead to 16 as plans to recover bodies still on the ash-covered area were delayed. The two who were added to the death toll had been hospitalized, authorities said Thursday. The bodies of eight others presumed dead are believed to be on White Island, where the blast occurred. Six others were confirmed dead.
Around 28 people remain hospitalized and another 23 were listed in critical condition, authorities said.
While 26 of the patients had burns covering at least 30 percent of their bodies, others had suffered burns to over 90 percent of their bodies, Dr. John Kenealy, clinical director of Surgery and Perioperative Services at Middlemore Hospital, told reporters.
John Bonning, president of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, told the New Zealand Herald he could smell sulfur on the victims' clothing as he wheeled patients into the Waikato Hospital following the eruption.

He said he was shocked as their bodies shed "bits of dead skin" and "broken ash."
"It was awful, just horrific,” said Bonning, who likened it to a war zone.
Australia was sending a military plane to bring some of its injured citizens back home for special medical care. They were expected to be transported to the states of New South Wales or Victoria beginning Thursday.