A minor eruption has taken place at New Zealand's White Island volcano.
The alert level at the volcano, also known by its Maori name Whakaari, has been raised to level 3.
The development comes nearly five years after the 22 people were killed when the volcano erupted during a visit by cruise ship tourists.
Volcanologist Geoff Kilgour, from New Zealand's geological monitoring service Geonet, said 'a more vigorous plume' was seen over White Island on Friday.
He added that the volcano was going through a period of 'elevated unrest' and that it was expected to rumble on for 'some time'.
'There is a low probability of this ash affecting the mainland,' he said.
'This weak eruptive activity was identified through a combination of webcam imagery and satellite data provided by our colleagues from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre at NZ MetService.
'The activity appears to have been most active from around 1 to 3 pm and has since diminished. Satellite data shows that the plume appears to have contained a minor amount of volcanic ash.'
A minor eruption has taken place at New Zealand's White Island volcano (pictured in late July)
The alert level at the volcano (pictured in May), also known by its Maori name Whakaari, has been raised to level 3
White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano, was a popular tourist destination before the 2019 eruption.
There were 47 tourists and tour guides on the island when superheated steam erupted on December 9, 2019, killing some people instantly and leaving survivors with agonising burns.
Australian victims in White Island tragedy: The dead and injured
24 Australians were among 47 tourists on New Zealand's White Island when it erupted.
THE DEAD:
Julie Richards, 47, and her daughter Jessica, 20, from Brisbane.
Julie Richards, 47, and her daughter Jessica, 20, (pictured) from Brisbane are among the dead
Martin Hollander and his wife Barbara
Martin Berend Hollander, 48, from Sydney.
His two sons Berend, 16, and Matthew, 13, who attended Sydney's Knox Grammar, both died in hospital after suffering serious injuries in the blast.
According to his Linkedin profile, Mr Hollander works at Transport for NSW as a freight initiatives manager.
He is also a director at a Singaporean investment management firm, Wipunen Incrementum Capital.
Mr Hollander and Mrs Hollander's bodies were later recovered from the island.
Martin Berend Hollander, 48, from Sydney, was formally identified on Monday. His wife Barbara (left) is yet to be formally identified
Gavin Dallow, 53, and stepdaughter Zoe Hosking, 15, from Adelaide
The Hosking/Dallow family had been on a tour at the time of the eruption. Mum Lisa Dallow is among the injured in hospital. Her husband Gavin (right) 53, and 15-year-old daughter Zoe, from Adelaide, (left) were confirmed dead
Mr Dallow's body was identified by police from the five bodies recovered from the island. Zoe was later formally identified as a victim.
Karla Mathews, 32, and Richard Elzer, 32, from Coffs Harbour, NSW
Karla Mathews (left), 32, is dead as is boyfriend Richard Elzer (right), 32, from Coffs Harbour
The couple were identified as those tourists still on the island and therefore presumed dead by their families.
Jason Griffiths, 33, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Jason Griffiths, 33, from Coffs Harbour was taken to hospital in critical condition but died from his injuries on Wednesday
Jason Griffiths, 33, from Coffs Harbour, NSW, died from his injuries after being taken to hospital in critical condition.
He had been on a tour of the volcano with couple Karla Mathews, 32, and Richard Elzer, 32, who are now presumed dead, friends said.
Matthew (Year 8) and Berend Hollander (Year 10) from Sydney
Matthew (left, year eight) and Berend (right, year 10) Hollander were confirmed dead on Thursday morning
Knox Grammar schoolboy brothers Matthew, 13, and Berend, 16, Hollander.
They died in two New Zealand hospitals after escaping the island with horrific burns.
Their father Martin and mother Barbara were confirmed dead.
Krystal Browitt, 21, from Melbourne, and her father Paul
Krystal Browitt was on the cruise for her 21st birthday with family
Ms Browitt was on the Ovation of the Seas cruise for her 21st birthday with family.
Mr Browitt died on 13 January in hospital.
Their mother Marie escaped death by staying on the cruise liner.
Anthony Langford, 51, and his wife Kristine Langford, 45, from Sydney
Anthony Langford, 51, (pictured with wife Kristine) had been among those still unaccounted for in the disaster. He was confirmed dead by police on Sunday
Kristine Langford, 45, from Sydney, is also among those dead.
The couple's 19-year-old son Jesse survived the volcano eruption, and is recovering in hospital with burns to 90 per cent of his body.
Mr Langford worked for Sydney Water.
Winona Langford, 17, Sydney
Police said Winona Lanford (pictured centre back row between her parents Anthony and Kristine) was one of the missing bodies still on White Island. She is not thought to have survived
NZ Police said one of the bodies still missing on White Island belonged to 17-year-old Winona Langford from Sydney.
Winona's mother and father have been confirmed dead.
Her body is either entombed on the deadly volcano island or is in the sea.
THE INJURED:
Stephanie Browitt
Stephanie Browitt suffered burns to 70 per cent of her body.
The 24-year-old from Melbourne had her fingers amputated and wears a full face mask to protect her healing skin.
Stephanie Browitt suffered burns to 70 per cent of her body
Lisa Dallow, 49, from Adelaide
Lisa Dallow (right with her husband Gavin who is missing), 49, from Adelaide
She was an induced coma in Hamilton Hospital, with 57 per cent of her body burnt.
Jesse Langford, 19, Sydney
Found: Jesse Langford (pictured with Michelle Spring, believed to be his girlfriend) is the sole survivor from his family
Jesse Langford was the sole survivor of his family-of-four who visited the island while on an Ovation of the Seas cruise for his father's birthday
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