SHATTERING EXPLOSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 212, 7 August 1945, Page 5

SHATTERING EXPLOSION

RUAPEHU’S ACTIVITY. WELLINGTON, Aug. 7. Increasing activity on Mt. Ruapehu has caused the authorities at Ohakune and Waiouru to make arrangements for tlie evacuation of the areas n necessary. The steps taken are precautionary, and officials emphasised last night that there was no cause for alarm. At Waiouru about 40 lorries are standing ready for instant use should the situation become serious Culminating in a shattering explosion soon after 7 o’clock yesterday morning, the mountain made its most spectacular display yet. Ash lias been falling heavily on Waiouru and laihapo and has also fallen on Ohakune. A low cloud ceiling reduced visibility round the mountain to nil last night, and it was impossible to observe any further activity. . , _ , All through Sunday night Ruapehu was seen to spout long tongues of flame and to throw white hot boulders high into the air. After the explosion which was heard and felt as far a wav as Mangaweka, a column of dense black smoke went up 10,000 or 12 000 feet. The air round the mountain yesterday was thick with sulphur fumes. Smoko continued to pour from the crater throughout the day. One report states that the smoke is eomfrom the crater in a scries of musliroom-sliaped balls as though a series of sudden, sharp, and distinct explosions were occurring. Ash fell on Waiouru last Thursday, and has been falling since. At first it was white, but by last night it had dimmed to light pink and was much coarser and heavier. The substance is like fine sand and very sharp. In Taihape the streets were covered with ash and people have been wearing overcoats to prevent their clothes from being discoloured. The biggest fall occurred yesterday , , The Mayor of Ohakune (M. Deiamar) stated last night that fantastic rumours were spreading. Ohakune had experienced a fall of ash on Sunday afternoon, but that was all. A false report had got abroad that dysentery had broken out in the town, caused by volcanic ash being washed into water tanks. It was also rumoured that wild clucks had left their sanctuary nearby because of hot ash falling on the water. " “These types of stories are ridiculous,” said the Mayor. .... , A report that a seven-ton houkler had fallen near Waiouru was also discounted. Railway men at Taihape have reported seeing a column of steam rising out of bush near National Park. This might mean that

the mountain has become active m an entirely new area. _ A Press Association message from Wlianagaroi states that reports from a wide area of Northland refer to distinct deposits of sulphur having been found yesterday morning. Traces were noticeable on the surface of pools and puddles. As the prevailing wind during the past 24 hours has been in the direction of Ruapehu, it is difficult, to believe that the sulphur has come from that mountain, which is at present in eruption. Many people in Whangarei detected a strong smell of sulphur on Sunday.