Mt Ruapehu eruptions Increase

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 605, 26 September 1995, Page 2

Mt Ruapehu eruptions Increase

The following re lease is from the Department of Conservation: The eruptions on Mount Ruapehu which began with a spectacular eruption late Saturday afternoon have continued with increased frequency and intensity throughout Sunday night and Monday. There is now

a substantial eruption column from the Crater Lake with the products of many moderate sized explosion merging to form one continuous plume. The ash plume has reached heights of about 10,000 metres and travelled to the east over the Kaimanawa Ranges and towards the Hawkes Bay. Dr Harry Keys said that

volcanic activity and steam have meant that it has not been possible to visit the Crater Lake to see to what the extent the lake has disappeared. A number of significant lahar flows have travelled down the Whangaehu Valley and the situation is being monitored by various agencies. By late afternoon the lake was still emptying into the Whangaehu River. Department of Conservation Regional Conservator Paul Green said that now the Volcanic Alert status

has risen to level 4, a decision has been made to evacuate the club huts on the Whakapapa Ski Field. Mr Green asked that trampers not use the Round the Mountain track on Mt Ruapehu or climb to high levels. Desert Rd closed The Desert Road has been closed to all traffic because of the threat of ashfall and road barriers are now in place on the Bruce Road above Whakapapa Village and the Tukino and Ohakune Mountain Roads.

Mr Green said that the hazard at Whakapapa Village will be continually assessed. At the moment it is considered safe and the lahar warning system in place will give sufficient warning if the need to evacuate the village arises. Mr Green stressed the

need for sightseers, media and public to respect the warnings given. "The eruption is incredibly spectacular and not something we see in New Zealand very often," Mr Green said. "However the potential exists for violent eruptions and unexpected

lahars to put people at extreme risk if warning are ignored." Anyone wanting updates on the status of the volcano should listen to news bulletins and information given out by the official agencies involved in monitoring this event.