It didn’t seem to take long before the naysayers were out in full force, criticising every aspect of the devastating event; the way the cruise ship responded, the way the police and rescue crews responded, and then questioning why tourists were even allowed on the island in the first place.
I know that if I had been on the cruise ship then I would have been one of those people who signed up to go to White Island and walk on the active volcano. I’ve always been drawn to the thing that pushes you outside of your comfort zone, however, I think in the back of my mind that although I have been aware of the inherent risks in outdoor adventures I’ve always believed (obviously wrongly) that as long as I didn’t make a mistake, that all would be OK.
What we seem to forget, and what the White Island tragedy reminds us of, is the fragile and volatile nature of nature itself.
What we seem to forget, and what the White Island tragedy reminds us of, is the fragile and volatile nature of nature itself. Regardless of the numerous warning systems in place and regular monitoring of volcanic activity, White Island erupted without warning.
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Adventure Magazine.
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This story is from the April 2020 edition of Adventure Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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