White Island, black day: Inside the tragedy on Whakaari

Whakaari/White Island erupted at 2.11pm on Monday. Photo / White Island Flights

On Monday, at 2.11pm, Whakaari/White Island in the Bay of Plenty erupted. Forty-seven people were on the small, volcanic island at the time.

They were tourists from around the world – from Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Germany, the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. Boats and helicopters rescued as many survivors as they could from the billowing smoke and ash. Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead. Of the dozens who were injured, some are still recovering in hospital.

Cherie Howie reports on the horror of 2.11pm and the bravery that followed.