WAIRAKEI TROUBLE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 14

WAIRAKEI TROUBLE

Close Watch Kept (M.Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 15. Engineers and workmen at the Wairakei geothermal field are keeping a close watch tonight on a highly-active area which erupted violently yesterday afternoon. “It might peter out, as it has done twice in the past—or it might blow,” Mr A. C L. Fooks, the project engineer at Wairakei. said tonight. No power has been lost, and the geothermal scheme has not been damaged or interrupted. Soon after a minor earthquake was felt in the middle of the North Island yesterday afternoon three large holes erupted and shot granite, mud, rock and steam for about 30 yards. The trouble area is about 40ft in diameter. Late tonight. several small holes in this area were hissing steam, accompanied by slight underground rumbling. Mr Fooks said that the only damage would be if the nearby pipeline dropped into the crater. However, by tonight, the area had not widened since yesterday and the pipeline was not in danger. After yesterday’s eruption bore 37, situated near the area, was closed and today water was pumped into it in an attempt to stop the eruption. Mr Fooks said there was no proof that the bore and the eruption were connected—“but we are taking no chances.”

For the last two years the trouble spot had been completely dry. It is possible that it was triggered off by the earthquake,” said Mr Fooks.

Tonight the area is bathed in light and a team of engineers and workmen are on hand to deal with any further outbreak. A senior engineer at Wairakei, Mr S. P. Craig, has suggested that the eruption might be experiencing a subterranean blockage This could result in pressure building up and lead to further outbreaks.