New Zealand orders 186K square inches of skin from US for volcano burn victims

New Zealand has ordered 186,000 square inches of skin grafts from the United States to help the dozens of burn victims of a volcanic eruption on a tourist-filled island.

White Island’s volcanic eruption Monday rocked the nation, killing at least six people and leaving 28 in intensive care with severe burns, USA Today reports.

“We currently have stock but are urgently sourcing additional supplies to meet the demand for dressing and temporary skin grafts,” Dr. Pete Watson, chief medical officer at Counties Makanau Health of New Zealand, told reporters at a press conference Wednesday.

Dr. John Kenealy, the clinical director of surgery at Counties Makanau, said that many of the burn victims had suffered burns on 90 to 95 percent of their bodies.

Eight additional people who were on the island at the time of the eruption are unaccounted for and feared to be dead, according to the newspaper.