Ron Howard and Leonardo DiCaprio release the first trailer for their documentary THE VOLCANO: Rescue from Whakaari

Whakaari erupted at 2.11pm on December 9, 2019, shooting out a massive column of steam and throwing a wave of hot rock, ash, and acid gas across the crater floor.

There were 47 people on the Bay of Plenty island at the time.

Sadly, twenty-two people died from the Whakaari disaster, either in the eruption or from injuries sustained.

Another 25 were injured, most needing intensive care for severe burns.

And now, three years on, Netflix has released the first official trailer for its upcoming documentary THE VOLCANO: Rescue from Whakaari.

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Directed and produced by Academy Award-nominated Rory Kennedy and executive produced by Ron Howard and Leonardo DiCaprio, THE VOLCANO: Rescue from Whakaari chronicles the minute-by-minute accounts of the eruption.

The documentary was done in collaboration with the local community and puts the people who experienced this tragedy first, allowing them to tell their own stories, in their own way.

Through first-hand video and audio by those on the island and surrounding area, the film depicts the tragic moments of those caught in the eruption and the survivors and the everyday people who came to their rescue.

THE VOLCANO: Rescue from Whakaari is set to be released on Netflix on December 16, 2022.