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Last night people fled from the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, as an eruption shook the area at around 8:20pm.

A 22-year-old climber was rescued from the mountain and is recovering in Waikato Hospital from leg injuries and hypothermia. He was injured when a rock fell through the roof of his hut where he was staying with three friends. There were no reports of other injuries.

The volcanic eruption sent two lahars (muddy torrents) down the northern and eastern slopes of the mountain, taking out a monitoring hut near the crater lake. The geothermal activity sent plumes of black smoke into the air, which were seen by pilots flying in the area. Skifields and ski lodges were evacuated, and roads and rail links closed last night.

The eruption has been described as a ‘blue sky’ eruption, as there was no prior warning or indicator that an eruption was imminent. It was similar to eruptions in 1969 and 1975, but smaller than those in 1995 and 1996.

Mount Ruapehu is the largest active volcano in New Zealand and, at 2,797 metres, is the highest point in the North Island. For more on this mammoth mountain, visit our New Zealand volcanoes category.

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