Volcanic eruption in New Zealand

After sleeping for more than 100 years, a volcano in New Zealand sprayed ash and steam into the sky yesterday.

>>>New Zealand: Tongariro volcano can be operated again

Volcanic ash covered the town of Turangi on New Zealand's North Island
after Tongariro volcano erupted before midnight on August 6. (Photo: EPA)

Tongariro, the name of one of the three volcanoes in the center of New Zealand's North Island, began operations just before midnight on August 6. Many loud explosions rang out before the steam and stone shot out from the mouth of the 1,978m high volcano. Officials have not counted the number of casualties and physical damage after the volcanic eruption, the BBC reported.

The nearest eruption of Tongariro volcano took place 115 years ago. Geologists do not know whether this eruption is a single event or the beginning of an eruption period.

Michael Rosenberg, a volcanic researcher, told TVNZ television that many experts discovered geological activity beneath the volcano Tongariro in the past few weeks, but they did not expect the volcano to be active.

The level of Tongariro's eruption tends to decrease. Meteorologists predict its dust will fly towards the Pacific Ocean. A number of domestic flights originating from North Island have been postponed or diverted because of volcanic dust. Police reported that the highways on the island were blocked by dust reducing visibility. Officials did not issue evacuation orders, but some people left the house to avoid dust.