Climber hit by erupting volcano

New Zealand’s snow-capped Mount Ruapehu volcano has erupted without warning sending mud and rocks down its slopes and seriously injuring a climber.

The explosion came last night with airline pilots reporting a cloud of ash and steam rising almost three miles above the 9,000ft peak.

“The top of the mountain is black, covered in crater lake mud and ash … that goes out about a half-mile from the summit,” scientist Brad Scott said.

The 22-year-old climber lost a leg after a rock crashed through a mountain shelter and crushed him, rescue officials said.

He was flown by helicopter to nearby Waikato Hospital where he his right leg had to be amputated.

About 60 skiers at two ski lodges were evacuated from the mountain before the short, sharp eruption was declared over.

Ruapehu in central North Island has erupted five times since 1969, with one in 1995 causing widespread damage when it tossed huge quantities of ash and rocks - the size of large cars – from its crater.

A mud flow from the crater lake caused New Zealand’s worst train accident on Christmas Eve 1953, in which 151 were killed as millions of gallons of mud and water crashed down the mountain’s slopes.

After an inspection flight over the mountain today, Dr Scott said the eruption was “small to moderate” – level 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 – and had sparked a seven-minute earthquake of magnitude 2.8.

The eruption was similar to those in 1969 and 1975 but smaller than one 12 years ago that caused widespread damage.