News out of new zealand. At least one person has died after a volcano erupted on white island. Police are expecting more fatalities and say conditions are too dangerous for rescuers to access the island right now. Cnns Kristie Lu Stout joins us live with more details. The search and rescue effort on white island, its on hold right now until it is safe enough to go onto the island. What are experts saying about when that might be . Reporter that is uncertain at this moment because this is an active volcano. Its been very active in the weeks leading up to todays event, and we are also waiting for a new Zealand Police conference to kick off any moment now to get any additional information. We continue to monitor the devastation as well as the death toll in new zealand after a volcano erupted in the northern part of the country on white island. We know at least one person has died. More fatalities are expected. Thats according to new Zealand Police. The person who died was one of 23 who were evacuated from the island, and police say around 50 people were on the island at the time of the eruption. We also heard earlier from the Prime Minister of new zealand, jacinda ardern, who said the focus right now needs to be on the search and rescue. Details on the eruption itself started monday, 2 30 p. M. Local time. It took place 50 kilometers from the east coast of the north island of new zealand. As you see in that social media video, plumes of smoke seen rising from the volcano. Theyre even seen all the way on the mainland, the north island. An Emergency Operation was declared to try to find those who remained there. But as you mentioned, rosemary, the new Zealand Police say it is just too dangerous for police and for rescue crews to go onto the island right now because its just covered in ash and volcanic material. Some additional background about the white island itself. It is new zealands most active cone volcano. It has also been called one of the worlds most accessible, active volcanos. The reason why is because there are regular Ocean Cruises that run near the island. There are even guided tours on the island itself. Tou tourists visit white island for extreme tourism, to see its beautiful and strange alien moonscape. Its one of the most dramatic landscapes that can be visited in new zealand. Again, this is an active volcano, a popular Tourist Destination that today has become a scene of ter rible tragedy. Rosemary. Most definitely. Of course as you and i are speaking, we are waiting for a News Conference that should take place very soon. New Zealand Police will talk to the public, to gathered reporters to explain the situation right now. But when will we learn more, do you think, about the scale of this volcanic eruption, and why tourists were allowed on this island given the volatility of this volcano . Reporter you know, it was very interesting because at the last police conference, the Government Press conference that took place in new zealand, we heard from an earth scientist who said it was not a particularly big eruption and called it a, quote, throatclearing eruption. This was an eruption that was not necessarily big. We learned later that new Zealand Airlines said that its flights were not affected at all. They said its not big because it wasnt powerful enough to disperse volcanic material beyond the island itself. But its a very different situation on white island and for the 50 people on the island at the time of the eruption. I just got off a skype chat with a volcanologist based in sydney, and i asked her what it would have been like for an individual on white island at the time of the eruption. And what she shared with me was truly harrowing. She pointed out that on this island, it has a water lake at its crater. The water is very acidic. She also pointed out that if the eruption happened underneath that water lake, it would have erupted with hot steam as well. We heard from the police that a number of the people who were evacuated from white island were evacuated with burn injuries. Those burn injuries very likely could have come from either the acidic water of the lake there at white island or from the hot steam that was emitted after that eruption event took place. Then on top of that, theres something called ballistics where you have the force of the eruption just emitting rocks into the air, throwing ash, rocks, other debris into the air. That causing impact injury as well. A very, very destructive event for those who were at the island at the time of the eruption when it took place new zealand local time 2 30 p. M. Rosemary . Kristie, as you mentioned, a number of people were evacuated off that island. We understand the man who died was evacuated off the island. So talk to us about how many people that they think remain on that island. Of course its a real worry as to what has happened to them given those people who were evacuated were injured in the course of that evacuation. Reporter yes. Earlier in the day when we heard from the Prime Minister of new zealand for the very first time, she had initially said they feared there were 100 people on the island who were there at the time of the eruption, 100 people, mainly tourists who were unaccounted for. In the hours after that, we later learned from both the Prime Minister and the police force that the number is believed to be around 50. Again, 23 people were evacuated from the island because one of those individuals was the first fatality. And we also have heard from police that they fear there will be additional fatalities. So as we await for this Additional Police presser, that is the information that we are bracing for right now about the death toll and whether or how it will rise in the wake of this catastrophic event. Back to you. All right. Kristie lu stout bringing us the latest on this. As i mentioned, we are waiting for that News Conference. As soon as it takes place, we will go to that to get more information on this volcanic eruption on white island in new zealand. Many thanks to you, kristie. It is a crucial day in washington. In the coming hours, another public hearing in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump will get under way. This hearing is imperative as it will set the stage for the rest of the impeachment process. Democrats are expected to present evidence against mr. Trump. House judiciary chairman jerry nadler says hes confident the case for impeachment is solid. Cnns lauren fox is on capitol hill with a look at what to expect. Reporter well, House Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have been prepping all weekend for what is expected to be a highprofile hearing on monday in the house Judiciary Committee. Essentially this is going to be an opportunity that will look very similar to a trial. Youre going to see lawyers laying out the evidence that they believe exists to impeach President Donald Trump, and its a big moment for the house Judiciary Committee because they could unveil articles of impeachment as soon as this week. They could even vote on them out of committee. That would set up a full house of representatives vote on whether or not to impeach donald trump before the christmas holiday. Thats a very quick time line when you think about the fact that the house intelligence committees investigation took more than two months. But its putting democrats in what could be a difficult position as the caucus has to debate just how broad to make those articles of impeachment. For one, theyre trying to consider whether or not to include anything from the Mueller Investigation in their articles. Some moderates believe that that would be too expansive. They want to keep it more narrow on that ukraine issue. For cnn, lauren fox, capitol hill. Meanwhile, the white house says it will not be taking part in the house proceedings. Jeremy diamond has more on that. Reporter today the house Judiciary Committee is indeed convening to hear the evidence formally for the first time against President Trump in this impeachment inquiry. But neither the president nor any of his attorneys will be attending that hearing. That is despite an invitation from the house Judiciary Committee democrats for the president or his attorneys to attend and participate in that hearing, even giving them the ability to crossexamine witnesses. And thats also despite the criticism over these last several months of this impeachment inquiry from the president , from the white house that they have not been able to participate in the process thus far. Nonetheless, the white house making very clear in a letter on friday from the white house counsel, pat cipollone, to the house Judiciary Committee, that this white house will not be participating in any of these impeachment hearings carried out by the house Judiciary Committee. In that letter, cipollone calls the impeachment inquiry completely baseless, and he also warns that impeaching trump, introducing those articles of impeachment, something that this house Judiciary Committee may very well do this week, cipollone calls that a reckless abuse of power if indeed House Democrats move forward as we expect them to. The messaging from the white house, though, in that letter and in tweets from the president , remarks from the president , is essentially get on with it. This white house is saying, look, if House Democrats are going to impeach the president , which indeed House Speaker nancy pelosi indicated last week is likely where this is headed, the white house really wants that process to be done with. That is because they are looking forward to the senate, which is controlled by the republicans were going to new zealand for Police Comments on the volcanic eruption on white island. Lets listen in. A number of other people have been taken to hospital. A number of people have burns as a result of the eruption. It is still too early for police to confirm how many people are involved. We continue to work as quickly as we can through a number of channels of information to confirm exact numbers, including how many people are still on the island. Both New Zealanders and overseas tourists are believed to be involved. We believe a number of these tourists have come from the ovation of the seas cruise ship. We cannot confirm the nationalities of these people involved. Due to the current risk, Emergency Services are unable to assist the island. What i mean by that, we have taken advice and they have assisted us with making a Risk Assessment that the island is unstable. The possibilities of further eruptions, but actually the physical environment is unsafe for us to return to the island. It is important that we consider the health and safety of those that are going to rescue those on the island. So we will be taking that advice from experts going forward. There will be concerns out there by friends and family, and so we have set up a number for those to make contact with us. So people within new zealand call us on the police website. From overseas, theres a number that will be provided shortly to you all so you can communicate. That would be fantastic, thank you. And of course the red cross has activated the family links website for people who want to register themselves as safe or make an inquiry about a loved one. We ask friends and family to make contact with their loved ones. If they have no luck, then please make contact with red cross or with ourselves. It is a nofly zone at the island at the moment, and we will continue to update you on the events as they unfold. But, again, can i just say our thoughts are absolutely with the friends and family of those that are injured and those that have died. I would like to thank you all for being here tonight. So thank you for that. Im happy to take a couple of questions. [ inaudible question ] we dont know that. How were you able to determine five people dead . There were five of those that were rescued from the island earlier in the day. So they were already dead when the bodies were brought back . I cant confirm exactly that information. I can find out for you, though. What is the status of those remaining . Sorry. What is the earliest estimation of when you like i said, we rely on experts to help us with that Risk Assessment. Theyre really clear that it is unsafe for our people or other Emergency Services to go to that island right now. [ inaudible question ] were not sure. Were going to deep reassessing. We will rely on the experts. Just to be clear, there were 23 people on the island, and that included the five people who were dead or died . Yes. And how many of those remaining 18 are injured . My understanding, theyve all got some injuries to some degree. And are those believed to be burns . Yes. [ inaudible question ] firstly, were unsure exactly the numbers that are on there, and were unsure of their well being. Would it be fair to say theres at least double digits number of people remaining on the island . Yes. Can you be me nany more spec . No. How can you not be more specific considering no. Were absolutely working with a range of people to make sure that we identify the numbers, the names of who is on the island or visited the island. So were just working through that, but it does take time. So weve got to make sure that weve got the right information in front of us. What are the nationalities of the people who have died . Theres a range of nationalities, and so i wont go any further than that at the moment. [ inaudible question ] like i said, the experts that weve spoken to have said it is unsafe for us to go onto that island, and so ive got to also consider the safety of our people and Emergency Services staff. [ inaudible question ] cant comment, sorry. [ inaudible question ] im not sure. Sorry. [ inaudible question ] new Zealand Police confirming there that five people have died as a result of that volcanic eruption on white island. They dont know how many people are left on that island, but they say it is too unsafe for them to resume search and rescue efforts on that island and suggest that family and friends contact the red cross. Lets go back to our Kristie Lu Stout who is covering this story, and that is not good news for family and friends. There just isnt anything more that can be done at this point. Reporter its a day of terrible tragedy for new zealand, and we just received some more information from police after that voc erulcano erupted. New Zealand Police confirming five people dead as a result of that eruption on white island. A number of the 23 evacuated have burn injuries. Also too early to confirm how many people were involved, including how many exactly were on the island. Weve been reporting throughout the day based on government figures. 50 were believed to be on the island, but that number is very fluid at this moment as we learned from that press conference. We also learned that both New Zealanders as well as overseas tourists were believed to be involved in this very tragic event. Again, this eruption started earlier today, monday, 2 30 p. M. Local time. It took place about 50 kilometers from the east coast of the north island of new zealand. Plumes of smoke were seen from the mainland. New Zealand Police saying its too dangerous for police and rescue to go onto the island because its covered in debris, ash, and volcanic material. I spoke to a volume can ollist about this. Why is it too dangerous for them to carry out this rescue operation. She told me they have to put a restriction on air traffic around it because of the chance of another explosive eruption. Because if theres another one, more ash, more particles would be moving up into the air. That would endanger helicopters, choppers, planes in the area. Al also getting there by boat would take a long time. She also told me the only place to land is very close to the crater itself. Very dangerous situation, so thats why we keep hearing from the police why they cannot carry out this rescue operation at this moment. As we learned, five people confirmed dead as a result of this volcanic eruption in new zealand. Of course we heard from new Zealand Police as well that they do expect more eruptions there. Of course people from all around the world were on that island. Presumably they will be able to confirm fairly soon where those various people came from. Kristie lu stout bringing us the very latest. Appreciate it. Russian president Vladimir Putin and his ukrainian counterpart will be meeting in paris. We will tell you whats at stake as they discuss the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Were live in paris. Thats next. In just a few hours from now, russian president Vladimir Putin will sit down with his ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky in their first face to face meeting. They will be discussing the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014 after russia annexed the crimian peninsula from ukraine. Ukrainians fear president zelensky might accept peace on mr. Putins terms. Matthew chance joins us now live from moscow with more on thi