New Zealand – White Island Volcano Erupts

Visitors warned to stay clear of island.

White Island volcano – about 30 miles (50 km) off the coast of Whakatane – has erupted, prompting GNS Science to advise visitors to take extra care.

The island is an active volcano and a popular tourist spot.

Its web camera captured the small eruption from Crater Lake, GNS Science volcanologist Michael Ronsenberg said.

“This is the first substantial confirmation that small scale eruptions are now occurring on the island and confirms the risk to visitors has increased,” he said.

GNS has changed the volcano’s alert level from one to two due to ‘minor eruptive activity.’ It follows a code change last week when scientists discovered water levels in Crater Lake rose by about 3m to 5m overnight and the number of tremors had increased.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/7425606/Visitors-warned-off-erupting-volcano

Thanks to Wanda for this link,