logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
38m 19s

Whakaari: Eruption on White Island | Hel...

Wondery
About this episode

As a wave of burning steam, ash and debris rolls down toward the shore, 47 tourists and guides sprint for cover, but there is no avoiding the blast. Meanwhile, a boat full of tourists that just left White Island returns to help. And back on the mainland, a local helicopter pilot named Mark Law sees the eruption and makes a fateful decision to fly out to look for survivors.


Listen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://wondery.com/links/against-the-odds/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 8
Alone in Antarctica | The Windiest Place on Earth | 1
It’s 1912, the golden age of Antarctic exploration, and teams from the Australasian Antarctic Expedition are preparing to journey into the wilderness. One trio, led by the Australian geologist Douglas Mawson, will venture the farthest — traversing 700 miles roundtrip of uncharted ... Show More
42 m
Jul 1
Oceanos: Rescue off the Wild Coast | Into the Waves | 4
In August 1991, Lorraine Betts set sail aboard the Oceanos as cruise director, overseeing passenger entertainment and well-being. But when the lights went out and the ship began taking on water, it wasn’t the captain who led the evacuation—it was Lorraine and a small group of ent ... Show More
37m 59s
Jun 24
Oceanos: Rescue off the Wild Coast | Sink or Swim | 3
With all the lifeboats launched, the remaining passengers aboard the Oceanos cling to railings as the ship lists hard to one side. When helicopters arrive, the entertainment crew springs into action again—coordinating a high-stakes airlift as rescuers lower cables from the sky. B ... Show More
43m 21s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Station Nightclub Fire | Lives Lost | 3
After learning about the fire, the community of West Warwick is horrified at the devastation the tragedy caused. Victims and their families demand answers, and soon Rhode Island’s Attorney General launches a grand jury investigation to find out not only how the fire spread so qui ... Show More
38m 43s
Jan 2025
Station Nightclub Fire | No Exit | 2
On the night of February 20, 2003, excitement fills the Station as the crowd eagerly awaits a performance by Jack Russell and Great White. But seconds into the show, sparks from a pyrotechnic display ignite the walls, unleashing a fire that spreads with terrifying speed.Be the fi ... Show More
34m 8s
Dec 2024
Challenger Disaster | Launch Day | 3
In the tense hours leading up to the Challenger launch, engineers and managers at NASA and its contractor Morton Thiokol heatedly argue over whether to move forward, despite freezing temperatures that threaten to compromise the rocket boosters’ O-Rings. Be the first to know about ... Show More
36m 55s
Jan 2025
The Unraveling of Boeing | The Crash | 1
It’s 2019 and after another deadly plane crash, Boeing finds its reputation and business in free fall. Its best-selling passenger jet, the 737 Max, is forced out of the skies and the company is forced to reckon with its mistakes.  Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podca ... Show More
34m 9s
Jan 2025
Station Nightclub Fire | Pyrotechnics | 1
In February 2003, a small nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island called the Station gets set to host a performance by ‘80s rock band Great White. But unbeknownst to the club’s patrons, owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian and their staff have cut corners on safety. And when Grea ... Show More
32m 47s
Oct 2024
Jamestown | A Hell of Darkness | 2
In January 1608, fire blazed through the English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia. Nearly every building was reduced to ash. The destruction meant that the colonists would have to brave the winter with nothing but the clothes on their backs. More than ever before, their survival ... Show More
40m 34s
Oct 2024
Concorde: Sonic Boom and Bust | The Crash | 4
At the turn of the century, a tragic accident leads Concorde to suffer a dramatic fall from grace.Listen to Business Movers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early ac ... Show More
36m 14s
Feb 2025
Station Nightclub Fire | Ninety Seconds to Get Out | 4
On February 20th, 2003, the rock band Great White took the stage at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. But when they began their set by igniting pyrotechnic sparklers, a fire broke out and ripped up the walls before quickly spreading to the rest of the building. ... Show More
37m 14s
Oct 2024
Jamestown | The Starving Time | 3
In the summer of 1609, a hurricane struck a large English fleet bound for Virginia on a rescue mission. Some of the battered survivors safely landed in Jamestown, but the flagship Sea Venture and the provisions it carried were lost. The already hungry colonists were forced to fac ... Show More
38m 27s
Sep 2024
Concorde: Sonic Boom and Bust | Takeoff | 3
As the Concorde supersonic jet finally prepares to enter passenger service, economic and political forces conspire to keep it grounded. Listen to Business Movers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the ne ... Show More
39m 4s