Huge mudflow inevitable from NZ volcano's lake

Wellington, Jan 29: A crater lake on a New Zealand volcanoused as a backdrop in the ''Lord of the Rings'' films is on the vergeof collapsing and could send a torrent of muddy water down the mountainin coming weeks, media reported today.

Melting snow on Mount Ruapehu has filled the lake to within 1.5metres of its lip, according to the New Zealand Herald newspaper.

The 2,797-metre volcano is the highest mountain in the North Island and home to two commercial ski fields.

Scientists say a lahar, or mudflow composed of volcanic materialand water, is inevitable as warm summer weather causes the snow to meltand fill the lake.

''It is still expected the earliest the dam might start collapsingto create a lahar down the Whangaehu River is February/March,'' theHerald quoted a Department of Conservation official as saying.

On December 24, 1953, a lahar rushing down the Whangaehu Riverdestroyed a railway bridge, causing a packed passenger train to plungeinto the river, killing 151 people on board.

Since then, a barrier of boulders and gravel has been built todivert any lahar flowing into the river. No major towns would be in itspath.

Mount Ruapehu, which last erupted in 1995 and 1996, creating thepresent crater dam, is in Tongariro National Park, where Peter Jacksonfilmed some scenes for his ''Lord of the Rings''.

Reuters>