By 3 News online staff
A Central North Island resident who witnessed the eruption of Mt Tongariro first-hand says the sky lit up with "flames and sparks".
Ann Lambert was woken by the eruption as it unfolded outside her bedroom window in Tokaanu.
"I heard this very loud rumbling noise and I thought it was a truck, and I got up to see what on earth was going on," says Ms Lambert. "I pulled back the drape and saw this huge plume in the sky, with flames and sparks and things coming out of it."
Ms Lambert and her husband live on the south side of Taupo, and help run the Rainbow Motel in Tokaanu. She says she initially thought Mt Ruapehu had erupted but realised the smoke and ash were too close.
"I got my husband up and I said, 'Come have a look at this, I think the mountain has erupted.' I thought it was Ruapehu, I was surprised we could see it because it was so near."
She says the plume was made up of smoke and dust and had "red flashes" that resembled flames.
"[It was] mainly smoke and dust, with red flashes – like lightning going through it.
"It was such a lovely clear sky – it was all starry… [with] this big plume sitting in the middle of it looked amazing with the sparks coming out of it. I do wish I’d taken photos."
Ms Lambert says her phone has been ringing all morning with concerned friends and family.
"We’re getting lots of texts and messages seeing how we are but we’re quite safe around here, there’s no ash around here."
The couple were living in Turangi when Ruapehu erupted in the 1990s. Ms Lambert says this eruption is much smaller.
3 News