Netflix viewers are struggling to ‘comprehend the horror’ of what victims of 2019’s devastating New Zealand volcano eruption went through, following the release of an emotional new documentary.
Watch the trailer here:
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari details the events of a devastating eruption in New Zealand’s Whakaari - a popular tourist destination also known as the White Island – on 9 December 2019, which left 22 dead.
The victims included two people whose bodies were never found.
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A further 25 were also injured, with many needing intensive care for severe burns.
A synopsis from Netflix reads: “A minute-by-minute account of tourists caught in a tragic volcanic eruption while sightseeing on an island off New Zealand in 2019, The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari celebrates the survivors, as well as the everyday people who courageously came to their rescue.”
Since landing on streaming site on 16 December, many viewers have praised the devastating film for showing the ‘bravery’ of those involved in the rescue efforts, while also paying tribute to the victims.
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One viewer tweeted: “Forget Meghan and Harry - go on over to Netflix and watch 'The Volcano' the story of Whakaari/White Island and the eruption - the story will hold you in its grip, the photography, the horror, the sheer humanity and unbelievable courage of so many people.”
Someone else wrote: “Very emotional watch. Three years later it’s hard to comprehend the horror of what the victims went through. The bravery of the pilots who flew through the ash, realised no paramedics were coming and took it upon themselves to save lives is beyond words.”
In an interview with the Scientific Inquirer, director Rory Kennedy opened up about why she wanted to create the film.
She said: I was deeply moved by the personal stories of the people who were on this remote island 48 kilometres off the coast of New Zealand and the harrowing events that they lived through.
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“Unfortunately, not everybody survived and then heroic stories of the pilots, the captains of the boats and other everyday people who really turned into heroes that day, doing what they could to save others and I found the story even in the face of this great tragedy quite inspiring and was interested in it immediately and turning it into a documentary.”
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari is available to stream on Netflix now.
Topics: TV and Film, Documentaries, Netflix
Jess Hardiman