E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Stefan Keller / Reuters
A massive plume of ash billows up into the sky as Mount Tongariro erupts in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand on November 21, 2012. The volcano previously erupted in August this year, the first time in more than a century.
The Associated Press reports — A New Zealand volcano erupted with a brief blast of dark ash Wednesday, canceling flights but causing no significant damage. Schoolchildren and dozens of other hikers who were walking on trails along the mountain's base were safe.
The eruption of Mount Tongariro, its second in less than four months, sent a dark ash plume about 1.9 miles into the sky. Authorities issued a no-fly alert above the mountain located in the sparsely populated area of central North Island.
Tongariro National Park, which has three active volcanoes, was the backdrop for many scenes in "The Lord of the Rings" movies. Read the full story.
•Sign up for the NBCNews.com Photos Newsletter
Park visitors were evacuated and flights were cancelled near New Zealand's Mount Tongariro after the volcano erupted without warning. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
Leave a Comment:
For SCIENCE!
For my old gaffer!!!!
Well Marry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU "Marry" Christmas, I hear she's a tramp. Eat, drink and be "Merry".
I though Gandalf gave up smoking
"Frodo, your coming to us is as the footsteps of DOOOOOOOM"!
Yikes. I did the Tongariro Crossing hike in 2005. It's grueling: 5 miles up and then 5 miles down the other side. Sounds like it erupted early enough in the day that no one was near the top yet. I hope it didn't wipe out the beautiful little emerald and turquoise lakes by the summit.
Someone needs to check for evidence of Smaug's treasure around the eruption site.
Blastin_Nancy---when people like you actually SEE the truth for itself, it'll be too late. Keeping your blinders on will certainly condemn you.
I just KNEW you would crawl out from under that rock sooner or later. Nobody has "SEEN" anything. No proof, no evidence of any sort. You just keep your nose buried in that book and don't ever look around, it'll scare you to death. 'Nuff said. Relpies are futile and meaningless.
What is the magnitude? What are the scientific readings? This would be more relevant than a reference to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. There could be grave consequences for the people of New Zealand. I doubt there will be any for middle earth.
And so it begins....one month remaining.
Zombie hobbits FTW!!!
I see his face on the left.
did someone send the eagles for Frodo and Sam??!!
You shall not pass!!!
Kaboooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom! Loool!
It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!
It's not nice to fool WITH Mother Nature.
The volcano should be fined for violating the clean air act.
Is this the real cause of global warming? More carbon spewed into the air in one event than all the autos combined.
Star Wars>LOTR>Star Trek
I had a feeling that evil orcs were once again walking the earth.. my sword started glowing last night....
the metal one -- get your minds out of the gutter...
I started to call it the magical sword but I figured that it might not be specifically descriptive enough for some folks...
and you know who you are.. so enjoy the holiday....
Smitty - Yes I know the one. and you too, enjoy the Holiday. Peace.
Precious my little precious
The ring, THE RING !!!
Definitely Obama's and all the Liberals fault this volcano erupted.
Nah, but you can be damn sure Obama will use it as an excuse for his failures.
What failures, King? Obama is one of the greatest presidents we have ever had, this despite the GOPigs best efforts to obstruct. Hillary 2016 !!!
Bwahahahahah
On a brighter note, Jessie Jackson Jr., having the distinction of being reelected by the Dems while he sat in the mental health ward suffering serious mental health issues (thereby calling into question their mental capacity), has resigned. Now all that is left to do is prosecute him and his wife for election fraud and pitch them into Mt Doom to be with their buddy Gollum
Not to mention, he was under investigation for illegal use of campaign funds...sounds like he and those he represents are just alike...and they say you get what you vote for.
The Bible is coming true!
I hope New Zealand gets a heafty fine from the EPA for that! They will be buying carbon credits for decades.
I wounldn't be surprised if the US UN Ambassador doesn't get on NBC and tell us, " the volcano explosion was due to a video of Gandalf eating a twinkie", you know that how the doofs would report it.
Wish it had been the Yellowstone caldera.
Heck girl, THAT would swallow up 5 states.
A Smaug alert has been issued for New Zealand.
A Smaug alert or a Smeagle alert? Smog is spelled S-M-O-G an ancronym for SMoke and fOG. :)
I hope the tree huggers sue New Zealand for CO2 pollution....Al Spore has some carbon credits he is willing to sell to "undo" the damage.