Volcano Live

1951 Eruption of Lamington Volcano

Three days of tremor preceded the eruption at Mt Lamington volcano. Landslides, ash emission, glowing volcanic bombs and lightning were witnessed and ignored by the people living around the volcano. Media reports stated officials did not to tell the the volcanologists about the activity and discouraged locals from leaving the area.

The paroxysm at Lamington occurred at 10:40 am on the 21st January 1951. A roar was heard 320 km away and a catastrophic avalanche ripped apart the side of the mountain. Pyroclastic flows killed everything in a 325 km sq radius of Mt Lamington. At Higaturu District Station, 10 km from Mt Lamington, a jeep was thrown into the trees and wedged between branches. The greatest runout distance for the pyroclastic flow was 12 km to Avalanche Valley. The devastation around Mt Lamington volcano was not uniform with some areas being destroyed to a limit of 6 km while others out to 12 km. Loss of life was 3000 to 4000.

One media report, after the eruption, had the headline "Why no Official Warning?' There was a strong and persistent demand for a public inquiry into the tragedy, which was never granted by the administration. An official was quoted as saying after the tragedy

"...As Mt. Lamington volcano was 8 miles from Higaturu, I  formed the opinion that there was no immediate danger to human life."