New Zealand volcano crater lake bursts banks
Pastor Dale Morgan
*
Perilous Times*
Sunday March 18, 2:50 PM Reuters
*New Zealand volcano crater lake bursts banks*
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Civil defence authorities in New Zealand have
activated an emergency response plan after the volcanic crater lake at
Mt. Ruapehu burst its banks sending a monster mudflow down the mountain,
Australian media reported on Sunday.
There were no reports of injuries or damage associated with the natural
phenomenon known as a "lahar", Australian Broadcasting Corp. said on its
Web site.
Mt. Ruapehu is one of the most active crater lake volcanoes in the world
and scientists have been expecting a significant lahar for the past few
months.
The 9,175-feet mountain also was the location of Middle Earth in the
"Lord of the Rings" trilogy of films.
Reports and the first pictures from the scene describe a flash flood of
water, mud and volcanic debris sweeping down the southern side of the
mountain towards Tangiwai, scene of the 1953 rail disaster that claimed
151 lives when a lahar swept away a bridge, the broadcaster said.
Hundreds of travellers have been stranded by road closures in the
central north island of New Zealand, with bad weather hampering efforts
for an aerial inspection of the volcano, it said.