RUAPEHU LAHAR MAPPING FOR RISK REDUCTION
Cold lahar flows threaten human life more than hot lava flows. That's according to scientists who are currently mapping old lahar flows from Ruapehu and Taranaki (Egmont). A lahar is a flow of mud and ash and water and possibly ice, created by volcanic eruptions. Massey University soil scientist Vince Neall says lava flows have been confined to the national parks and travel relatively short distances so present a danger to just ski huts on the mountain, while
lahars have already claimed several lives and damaged much property in this country. The Tangiwai disaster in 1953 was caused by a lahar taking out the Tangiwai rail bridge, claiming 151 lives. Another in 1969 took out a Whakapapa skifield kiosk and one in 1975 overflowed the Whangaehu river on the eastern slopes on Ruapehu and swept debris into a Tongariro Power Scheme aqueduct, setting back the job by a year. Dr Neall said the study's data would help predict where lahars are likely to flow - predictions which would help civil defence workers to protect supply and communication links.
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Bibliographic details
Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 299, 11 August 1989, Page 6
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183RUAPEHU LAHAR MAPPING FOR RISK REDUCTION Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 299, 11 August 1989, Page 6
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