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NZ volcano erupts, aviation warning raised
Source: Xinhua |
November 21, 2012, Wednesday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
New Zealand's central North Island volcano of Tongariro erupted today at 1:25 pm local time, the government's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS Science) announced.
A statement from GNS Science said that volcanologists were monitoring the eruption and further information would be released as it became available.
It said the volcanic alert level had been raised from level one, which indicated signs of volcano unrest, to level two, which indicated minor eruptive activity.
The aviation color code was set at red, warning aircraft that an eruption was underway with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere.
The eruption occurred in the Te Maari Craters area of Tongariro.
The Ministry of Civil Defense warned that light volcanic ash fall could be anticipated downwind of Tongariro and affect the regions of Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty.
It said people experiencing ashfall should protect their eyes and try to avoid breathing the ash.
Tongariro last erupted on August 6, throwing out small amounts of ash in its first eruption since 1897.
Last week, GNS Science warned that the nearby Mount Ruapehu was showing signs of an imminent eruption as the temperature beneath its Crater Lake reached about 800 degrees centigrade, but the lake itself was only 20 degrees centigrade, which suggested a vent was partly blocked.
However, the volcanic alert level remained at 1 on the scale of 0 to 5, indicating initial signs of possible volcano unrest.
A statement from GNS Science said that volcanologists were monitoring the eruption and further information would be released as it became available.
It said the volcanic alert level had been raised from level one, which indicated signs of volcano unrest, to level two, which indicated minor eruptive activity.
The aviation color code was set at red, warning aircraft that an eruption was underway with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere.
The eruption occurred in the Te Maari Craters area of Tongariro.
The Ministry of Civil Defense warned that light volcanic ash fall could be anticipated downwind of Tongariro and affect the regions of Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty.
It said people experiencing ashfall should protect their eyes and try to avoid breathing the ash.
Tongariro last erupted on August 6, throwing out small amounts of ash in its first eruption since 1897.
Last week, GNS Science warned that the nearby Mount Ruapehu was showing signs of an imminent eruption as the temperature beneath its Crater Lake reached about 800 degrees centigrade, but the lake itself was only 20 degrees centigrade, which suggested a vent was partly blocked.
However, the volcanic alert level remained at 1 on the scale of 0 to 5, indicating initial signs of possible volcano unrest.
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