Four people were freed after they were buried during an avalanche on Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand on Friday.
According to the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory, a party of six was ski touring on the mountain’s backcountry, near Glacier Knob.
Photos of the avalanche on Mount Ruapehu on Friday that were submitted to the NZAA website. Credit: NZAA
The avalanche was reported to be 50 metres long and 50 metres wide, at a depth of 40 centimetres.
Four members of the party were partially buried in the avalanche, one with only their face and arm free and another with only their hand protruding.
The latter had an airway carved out of the snow within two minutes of the avalanche, and everyone was freed within 10 minutes, a public observation submitted to the NZAA website noted. No one was injured in the incident.
In a statement, New Zealand Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley said the party was “extremely lucky” that no one was hurt.
Mount Ruapehu, on New Zealand’s North Island.Credit: Visit Ruapehu
“It’s the start of the season, so now is the time to think about avalanche safety and ensure you have all the basics covered. If you’re heading into the backcountry, you need the skills, training, and the equipment, and you need to check the avalanche forecast every time,” he said.
On average, there are 31 reported avalanches every year in New Zealand, and just over one fatality a year, according to the Mountain Safety Council.
Avalanches can occur in Tongariro National Park in any season, but are most common from July through to October, according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
The NZAA rates the avalanche conditions for Tongariro as “considerable” and recommends people be cautious in their route-finding and remain conservative in their decision-making while in the area.
In August 2024, three close calls from avalanches near ski fields, including near Mount Ruapehu, prompted the NZ Mountain Safety Council to issue a warning.
At the time, Daisley said all slopes beyond ski field boundaries, no matter how close to the resort, should be regarded as backcountry terrain and treated accordingly.
“Despite the proximity to a ski field, all backcountry terrain poses inherent risks that skiers and boarders need to be aware of,” he said.
Stuff.co.nz
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clarification
An earlier version of this story said six people were partially buried. There were six people in the group, but only four were partially buried.