NZ volcano erupts, aviation warning raised

WELLINGTON - New Zealand's central North Island volcano of Tongariro erupted Wednesday at 1:25 pm local time, spewing a plume of ash and steam high into the air.

The government's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science) announced 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 emissions of ash into the atmosphere.

A statement from GNS Science said that volcanologists were monitoring the eruption and further information would be released as it became available.

The Ministry of Civil Defence issued a statement saying the eruption had lasted about five minutes, and steam continued to come from the volcano after that time but no further ash.

"There appears to be no significant threat to property or people away from the summit," said the statement.

However, it warned the immediate vicinity of the Te Maari craters, where the eruption occurred, could be hazardous.

It 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.

Air New Zealand issued an advisory that flights to some airports east of Mount Tongariro could be delayed or canceled as a result of the eruption.

Police said they had received no reports of injuries and no search and rescue operations were underway on the mountain, which is a popular attraction for tourists and hikers.

"We have no road closures in place, but I would discourage sight-seers from traveling to the area. We don't want unnecessary congestion to contend with, and want to ensure the road network remains free-flowing just in case there is any further volcanic activity," Inspector Steve Bullock said in a statement.

Radio New Zealand reported that 30 to 50 people were hiking on a track across the mountain at the time of the eruption, but none of them were believed to have been in danger.

Helicopter pilot John Funnell, who was flying near the mountain when it erupted, told Radio New Zealand that he could see up to 20 people on the ground on Tongariro's northern slopes, but they didn 't appear to be concerned.

Funnell later said some ash was starting to spread as it was caught by high-altitude winds, but he could also see ash on the ground.

Nearby resident Robyn Bennett told Radio New Zealand the ash was building up around her home, and she might have to move if the mountain started throwing out hot rocks.

Another resident said steam was still coming from the volcano several hours after the initial eruption on Wednesday, according to the report.

Tongariro last erupted on August 6, throwing out small amounts of ash in its first eruption since 1897.

Two days later, White Island, a marine volcano about 50 km off the east of the North Island, erupted, sending up an ash plume 200 to 300 meters in the air, in its first eruption since 2001.  

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.