MT.RUAPEHU - ERUPTION!

Central North Island, New Zealand

On Monday 17th June 1996, Mount Ruapehu erupted again. Its last eruption was on September 1995. Its highest activity level was Level 4 (Level 5 being a full scale eruption) when it erupted in 1995. This current eruption was measured as a Level 3.

The following are some pictures of the eruption:

Ash cloud plume spewed out by the volcano, tens of thousands of feet in the air is carried away by the wind, affecting much of the North Island and even parts of the South Island!

Animation of the 1996 explosion. Created by
Gregg Sheehan

Here is a picture of the initial eruption on September 1995