An eruption occurred at Te Maari Craters, Tongariro at approximately 1:25 pm today (Wednesday, 21 November 2012). GNS Science volcanologists are monitoring the eruption and further information will be released as soon as it is available.
Initial responses and eye witness accounts have featured in the rapid coverage below:
TVNZ News: Mount Tongariro erupts – live updates
New Zealand Herald: Mount Tongariro erupts
TV 3 News: Mt Tongariro erupts
Dominion Post: Mt Tongariro erupts
Radio New Zealand: Mt Tongariro erupts again
You can watch time lapse photos of the Te Maari Craters on the GNS Science GeoNet site.
On the SMC site you can read expert reaction to an earlier Tongariro eruption in August this year (also see previous commentary on last year’s Chilean volcanic eruption and more commentary here on 2010?s volcanic eruption in Iceland).
GNS has also provided an ashfall map indicating the areas it believe will be most affected by falling ash from the eruption.
