A
volcano off the
New Zealand coast erupted Monday with a towering blast of ash and scalding steam as dozens of tourists were exploring its 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 evacuate the dozens of survivors, some of them critically injured.
The missing and injured included New Zealanders and tourists from Australia, the U.S.,
China,
Britain and
Malaysia, the prime minister said.