Dramatic video shows moment of White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand

Horrific vision shows the moment of a deadly volcanic eruption in New Zealand, as those on a boat who had just left the island watch in terror.

Video shows the dramatic moment people on a boat watch a volcano erupt, moments after they were standing in its path.

People can be heard shouting “go inside, go inside!” as the massive plume of smoke and steam blasts out of the crater of White Island in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty.

The vision, captured by Allessandro Kauffmann, captures the moments before the eruption – people smiling and enjoying the boat ride.

And then, White Island, also known as Whakaari, comes alive.

The volcano eruption left at least five dead and others injured and unaccounted for.

Police said 23 people had been taken off the island, and a number of people — “in the double digits” — remain on the island whose conditions are unknown.

pic.twitter.com/NcFiCWi2Yf

— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019

Those are some of the people put boat picked up. Praying for them and their recovery. Woman my mom tended to was in critical condition but seemed strong by the end.

The helicopters on the island looked destroyed: pic.twitter.com/jds5QBD1yg

— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019

Emotional families of those affected are gathering at Whakatane wharf on the North Island, The New Zealand Herald reports.

People covered in ash could earlier be seen arriving for treatment after being transported from rescue helicopters.

Cameras providing a live feed from the volcano showed more than half a dozen people walking inside the rim at 12.10pm AEDT, before images went dark when the eruption occurred minutes later.

Other dramatic video taken from a boat shows the sky covered in ash.

Michael Schade said he and his family had left the volcano just 20 minutes before the eruption.

“My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001,” he said. “We were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable.”

Mr Schade shared video of rescued people their boat picked up.

“Praying for them and their recovery,” he said.

“Woman my mum tended to was in critical condition but seemed strong by the end. The helicopters on the island looked destroyed.”

Helicopters can be seen covered in ash in one of the videos.

“This is so hard to believe,” he said.

“Our whole tour group were literally standing at the edge of the main crater not 30 minutes before. My thoughts with the families of those currently unaccounted for, the people recovering now, and especially the rescue workers.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern their thoughts were with those affected.

NZME reporter Katee Shanks said emergency services were lining people up on the island’s wharf in stretchers. Workers have put up a white sheet to block the stretchers from the public.

Long term resident Maree Reeve said it was “possibly the worst eruption she had even seen from the island”.

The island became a private scenic reserve in 1953, and daily tours allow more than 10,000 people to visit the volcano every year.