Earlier volcano warnings could mean more false alarms – but they could also save lives

Whakaari/White Island’s sudden eruption in December 2019, which killed 22 people and severely injured 25 others, was New Zealand’s deadliest volcanic disaster in recent history. But it was not a freak event. Over the past 20 years, New Zealand has experienced another half-dozen sudden volcanic explosions with the potential to kill or injure people nearby. In many respects, these were near-misses, occurring at night or when few tourists or workers were present. Yet none was successfully forecast…