People travel to New Zealand to experience its natural beauty and wonder. This part of the Earth is so unique; it's like no other in the entire world. Anyone who gets to experience it should consider themselves lucky.

Unless they were exploring White Island, which lies 30 miles from the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, in the Bay of Plenty, on the day the island's volcano erupted. Those tourists are anything but lucky. These unfortunate folk ventured out for a day of exploration, and some never returned home. For the volcano inhabiting the island blew its top, sending the tiny nation into chaos.

People lost their lives, people are missing, and people are mourning. Here are twenty images from the eruption that will tug at the heartstrings and remind you of the power that nature holds.

20 Sadly The Eruption Claimed Several Lives

wallstreetjournal.com

Many people who were exploring the island on the day the volcano blew its top lost their lives. Some were rescued, but succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, while others never even made it back to the mainland at all. Sixteen people perished in the volcanic eruption, but that number could climb, considering how many people are still unaccounted for.

19  Dozens Missing Are Lost Forever

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Knowing a loved one lost their life in a natural disaster is horrendous. Having a relative missing for days, without any word on their well being, while fearing the worst, well that is legit torture.  Many of the near-fifty people who were exploring the island when the volcano erupted are still unaccounted for. We pray their families receive closure soon.

18 With Many People Still Unaccounted For, No Survivors Are Thought To Still Be On The Island

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When the volcano decided to spew ash, lava, and toxic gas at the innocent travelers taking in its splendor, friends and family stood by, wondering if their loved ones were safe. Some made it out okay and confirmed their safety. Others sent no word. When the announcement was made that no survivors were thought to still be on the island, people's hearts broke. That is some hard news to swallow.

17 The Island Nation Is Collectively Grieving

via cbc.ca

New Zealand is a small island nation by comparison, so when something like this happens, it's heavily felt throughout the entire community. Everyone in New Zealand and surrounding areas seem to have been affected by the tragedy. All they can do now is ban together and support each other as they heal.

16 Everyone Is Answering The Call Of Help

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Sometimes it is in the wake of tragedy where people band together and work towards the common good, healing, and rebuilding. That seems to be the case here. Able bodies pitched in wherever needed to aid the injured and the grieving. This is one of the beautiful things that sometimes stems from incidences like this one. Human kindness.

15 Imagine Watching This Thing Blow

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Some tourists had just left White Island and boarded their boat when the volcano erupted. When they turned around, this is what they saw. Smoke, ask, and three hundred-degree water spewing from one of nature's most violent structures. It is something to behold. We're sure these people were relieved to have missed the danger.

14 The Island Is A World Of Silent Ash Now

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The topography of White Island looks very different following the explosion. Much of the landscape is now covered with soot and ash, much like this. Wildlife, vegetation, and human life were all decimated when the blanket of fiery ash descended upon the small island. It's going to take time for the island to come back from this.

13 This Volcano Eerily Looms Even In The Distance

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Even from miles away, the volcano could be seen throwing piles of smoke, ash, and gas up into the air. While people this far away were safe from its peril, they were reminded that nature waits for no one. Volcanos erupt when it's their time, and anyone in the way is unfortunate. Exploring an active volcano will never be a safe activity.

12 Tourists Were No Match For This Pluming Smoke And Ash

via thespinoff.com

This is no regular smoke flying up into the atmosphere. The volcano sent forth highly poisonous gases and ash that descended upon the people below. The travelers who lost there life were no match for such a powerful force. Even days after the eruption, the landscape remains dangerous.

11 The Vast Devastation Of The Land

via dailymail.co.uk

White Island now looks like a scene from planet Mars. The island before the eruption wasn't exactly lush, but whatever vegetation HAD been there, is there no more. Rescue teams and scientists venturing onto White Island are suited with special suits and gas masks to protect them from the lingering elements.

10 The People On This Boat Are Way Too Close

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About 47 people were exploring the privately owned island when the volcano erupted. The folks who had just boarded their tourist boats could only watch and film what was unfolding before their eyes. Mesmerizing at it might seem, we are pretty sure we would be screaming for the guide to move that boat away faster.

9 It Looks Like An Entirely Different Planet

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The current scene on White Island looks like something we might see in a science fiction movie about a faraway planet. Nope. This is Earth, and pictures such as this remind us that our planet remains volatile and dangerous. Many of us live our lives in our safe bubbles and forget that nature is unpredictable and powerful as heck.

8 This Is Literally A Wall Of Burning Smoke And Ash

via metro.com

This ash and smoke is no joke. The poisonous pillow rose incredibly high into the atmosphere following the blast. Ash, steam, and smoke reached heights of twelve thousand feet into the air. For many, there was little chance of escaping; they were too close to the danger. Others got off the island with severe burns and other injuries. Some of those people passed in mainland hospitals.

7 Prayers For The Brave Souls Going Back In After This Blast

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Helicopters landed on White Island looking for any possible survivors. The people on those helicopters were a whole other level of brave. Even in specialized suits, the first responders' own bodies were in danger because of the blowing sulphuric gases swirling around the island. Without these courageous people, more lives would have been lost, without a doubt.

6 I Can't Even Breathe Properly Looking At This Eruption, And We're Halfway Across The World

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I get anxious, looking at these images, and I am nowhere near any type of active volcano. It's hard even to fathom the fear that those the forty-seven people on White Island experienced when the volcano released its fury. Some accounts described the blast as nearly silent, which makes this ordeal even scarier.

5 A Couple Celebrating The Happiest Time In Their Lives Was Severely Injured

via wkbn.com/hindustantimes.com

Newlyweds Lauren and Matt Urey were on their New Zealand honeymoon, celebrating the most significant event in their lives. Now they lie in hospital beds, trying to recover physically and emotionally from what they endured on White Island. It's so sad to think that this is how they started out married life.

4 The Blast Was So Quiet, People Never Even Heard It Coming

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The explorers on White Island knew the dangers of traversing an active volcano, and many understood the precautions to take, should the thing decide to blow its top. Regardless of all of this, many tourists didn't even realize what was happening because they never heard the volcano erupt. It seems nearly impossible, but one survivor claimed that she never heard a thing with the hums of the boat engines.

3 Tourists Became Instant Rescuers

via philidelphiainquirer.com

Some of the people who had already boarded boats headed back to the mainland became rescuers when those boats turned around and headed back into danger to help the hurt. The untrained civilians did what they could to help the choking and burned people who had been affected by the blast.

2 Families Left In Shambles By The Eruption

via theusposts.com/dailymail.co.uk

Families have been torn apart by this tragedy. One pair of brothers perished while trying to recover at a hospital; their parents are still unaccounted for. A mother and daughter left relatives in mourning when they never made it out alive. Another mother lies in a hospital recovering, but also knowing her teenage daughter and husband are lost to her forever.

1 And We Want Nothing To Do With Any Volcanic Islands Ever Again

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People love adventure and love watching the power of nature. Because of this natural curiosity and need for adrenaline rushes, humans will always be drawn to natural landscapes like active volcanos. If a volcano is active, it could erupt at any given time. Knowing this, we think we'll choose to stay far away from all of them.