Dante's Peak

In 1993, USGS volcanologist Dr. Harry Dalton and his colleague Marianne find themselves in a desperate situation during the eruption of Galeras in Colombia. Tragically, their escape leads to Marianne's death due to debris falling on them.

Four years after the tragic incident, Harry is assigned by Dr. Paul Dreyfus to investigate unusual seismic activity in Dante's Peak, Washington. The town is located near a dormant stratovolcano, raising concerns about a potential eruption.

Upon arriving in Dante's Peak, Harry meets the town's mayor, Rachel Wando, along with her children Graham and Lauren. They discuss the town's recent accolade as the second-best place to live in the USA while Harry begins to assess the volcanic risk.

During a visit to Rachel's former mother-in-law, Ruth, at the lake by the volcano, Harry and Rachel witness alarming signs of environmental damage. They see dead trees and animals, and discover horrifying evidence of two people who succumbed to a hot spring.

Later that evening, Dr. Paul Dreyfus arrives with a USGS team to monitor the volcano. Despite some disturbing signs, Paul urges caution and denies Harry’s concerns, which frustrates Harry, who fears for the town's safety.

The town council expresses anxiety over a potential loss of jobs and investments in light of the seismic activities. After a week without incident, tensions rise further when Harry's colleague Terry is injured during an earthquake at the volcano's summit.

Harry's investigative instincts prove correct when he finds that the local water supply has been contaminated with sulfur dioxide. The urgency escalates as seismic readings and gas levels rise, prompting Harry to call for heightened alert.

Chaos ensues when the volcano erupts, forcing Harry and Rachel to rescue her children. They attempt to save Ruth, who refuses to leave her home, resulting in a tense and dangerous escape as they witness both destruction and despair.

In their desperate bid for survival, Harry, Rachel, and the children flee across the lake on a motorboat. However, they are confronted with the harrowing reality that the lake water has turned acidic, damaging their motor and threatening their lives.

In a courageous act, Ruth jumps into the acidic lake to help steer the boat to safety. Unfortunately, she suffers severe chemical burns and tragically passes away the next morning, surrounded by her loved ones.

As the eruption continues, the helicopter pilot hired for evacuation becomes distracted by profit motives, leading to a crash after the chopper ingests volcanic ash. This incident further complicates the already dire evacuation efforts.

The eruption melts glaciers on the volcano, triggering a destructive lahar that obliterates a nearby dam. This event puts more lives at risk and leaves the town even more vulnerable to the ongoing disaster.

During what seems like a moment of hope, a bridge unexpectedly collapses under the weight of the lahar, tragically taking Paul and the van with it. This further deepens the sense of loss and peril for those left behind.

As Harry and the Wandos make their way through the devastated town, they discover that escape routes are no longer accessible. With danger closing in, they manage to rescue Ruth's dog, Roughy, amidst chaos and destruction.

In a nail-biting climax, Harry and the Wandos are forced to seek refuge in an abandoned mine just as the volcano erupts again. Although it seems Harry has perished, he activates a distress beacon, leading to their eventual rescue days later.