The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari is a powerful and poignant documentary that tells the story of the devastating eruption of Whakaari/White Island in New Zealand. The film follows the rescue efforts of the emergency responders who bravely risked their lives to save those injured or stranded on the island, as well as the heart-wrenching stories of the survivors and the loved ones of those killed.
A Seismic Tragedy At Whakaari
In The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari, 47 tourists and guides went on what was first thought of as a routine tourist trip to the active volcanic island known as White Island. But it was far from routine as they were unexpectedly trapped when the volcano erupted in a surge of toxic dust, steam, and ash.
The eruption of Whakaari was an unexpected event that reminds us how unpredictable nature can be. Speaking to volcanologist Dr. Rosaly Lopes, from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, about the film, she commented that the eruption was “a chance event. The problem is that [volcano] could erupt pretty much any time.”
“For volcanoes on Earth,” she explained, “the most challenging thing is predicting when they’re going to erupt because volcanoes are very different. I mean, there are major types of volcanoes but they have their little quirks. So, the projections that you make for one volcano don’t necessarily work for another one… What happened in Whakaari is what we call a free-agent eruption. That’s where water gets into the magma and creates an explosion, and that’s difficult, maybe impossible to predict.”
The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari And The Resilience Of The Human Spirit
While the documentary could have easily been bogged down with science, one of the most striking aspects of the film is the raw emotion and intensity of the rescue mission. The rescuers and survivors recount the chaos and confusion of the eruption, as well as the bravery and determination of those who risked their lives to save others. The footage of the rescue efforts, including the daring helicopter missions to evacuate the injured, is truly gripping and shows the incredible bravery and heroism of the rescue workers. The fact that much of the footage was from actual video taken by the survivors and rescuers brings a sense of reality that is jaw-dropping.
Another poignant aspect of the film is the personal stories of the survivors and their loved ones. The film shows the incredible resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the human bond in the face of unimaginable tragedy. The survivors and their families share their stories of loss and grief as well as how they are attempting to move forward in the face of such devastating events.
Overall, the film is a deeply moving and powerful documentary that tells a compelling story.
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari is produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Ron Howard, and Brian Grazer. Oscar-nominated Rory Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, directed. While this film is in documentary form, the footage and story are so compelling, that it is easy to see this extending as a theatrical feature film.
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari is streaming now on Netflix.
