The privately-owned White Island, or Whakaari, has long been a popular destination for day tours and scenic flights. It’s been called a "living, breathing, geological giant" - it is one of the biggest volcanoes in New Zealand with most of it resting underwater. What we see above sea level is merely the tip of the crater.

The BBC spoke to volcanologists in the immediate aftermath of the eruption:

• Jan Lindsay, from the University of Auckland, said White Island was "persistently active in the sense that it has a very active hydrothermal system". Rather than having lots of eruptions involving magma, she said this meant it had periodic ash explosions and had lakes "churning over with gases".
• Ben Kennedy from the University of Canterbury said: “There are minerals crystallising deeper down and creating blockages - that allows pressure to build, and the volcano needs to periodically clear its throat."

You can read more of their comments here.

Image source, EPA

The first victim to be been named in local media has been identified as tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman.

Former Whakatāne mayor Tony Bonne told Radio New Zealand that he was an experienced guide, external.

"He was a diver; he loved his fishing; he loved life and he'd been a guide for White Island Tours for a number of years," Mr Bonne said.

Image source, EPA

After the drama and horror of the sudden eruption yesterday, attention is now turning firmly to the victims of the disaster – as well as recovery.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told parliament: “I say to those who have lost and grieved – you are forever linked to our nation and we will hold you close.”

Earlier, talking to reporters, she confirmed that there were “no signs of life” on the island and the focus was very much on recovery rather than rescue now.

With the numbers being provided by officials, this means that 13 are now feared dead – that’s five who have been confirmed and eight more still unaccounted for.

With 13 feared dead and many more injured, information about who was caught up in Monday's sudden eruption and stories of both horror and heroism are beginning to emerge. So what's the story so far?

• At around 2pm local time Monday the White Island volcano let out an eruption while tourists were still within the crater
• Five people have been confirmed dead and eight are still unaccounted for
• PM Jacinda Ardern has said that 47 people from a number of countries including, New Zealand, Australia, the US, UK, China and Malaysia, were on the island when it erupted
• Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that he believes 11 of the 13 feared dead are Australian citizens
• The first victim named was local tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman
• The island is still too dangerous for any serious recovery efforts and scientists have said there is a 50% chance of another eruption in the next 24 hours.