A volcano off the New Zealand coast erupted Monday with a towering blast of ash and scalding steam as dozens of tourists were exploring the moon-like surface, killing five people and leaving eight others missing and feared dead, authorities said.
Helicopter crews landed on White Island despite the danger and helped rescue dozens of survivors, authorities said.
Hours after the disaster, the site was still considered too dangerous for rescuers to search for the missing. But aircraft flew over the island, and "no signs of life have been seen at any point," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.