Professor Clive de Roo, a maverick scientist, detects volcanic activity under Auckland Harbour, predicting an imminent eruption that would engulf the city. Despite his warnings, his calls for evacuation are initially ignored due to his reputation. Meanwhile, other characters face personal struggles amidst the looming threat: a single mother undergoing a mastectomy, a young couple dealing with a break-up, and Clive's wife and daughter coping with their own issues.