New Zealand Volcano Erupts

A volcano erupted on a remote New Zealand island Friday, tossing mud, rocks and steam high into the air and prompting the evacuation of conservation workers in the area. Authorities say one person is missing.

The volcano on Raoul Island, a nature reserve in the remote Kermadecs islands group, erupted for about 30 minutes starting at 8:21 a.m. following strong earthquakes that began Sunday night, GNS Science, the nation's main geological science group, said in a statement.

The eruption occurred in one of the volcano's three craters, known as Green Lake.

One member of the government's Conservation Department is missing.

"One staff member is missing after going on a routine mission to check the water temperature of the lake," the department's regional manager Rolien Elliot said.

The Conservation Department's five other staff on the island were safe and awaiting evacuation, she said. The eruption was accompanied by a moderate earthquake with a magnitude between 3 and 4.

She said a helicopter and nearby boats are helping to evacuate staff from the island, which lies in the South Pacific 625 miles northeast of the New Zealand's northern city of Auckland.

The eruption threw out mud, rocks and a plume of steam. No lava or molten rock was reported flowing from the vent.

"We are monitoring the situation closely, with the safety of the staff being our top priority." Elliot said.

Raoul Island — roughly triangular with an area of 11.6 square miles — was once used as a weather station.

It is known to have erupted 14 times, the last one occurring on Nov. 21, 1964 from vents close to Green Lake. There were no casualties.

A series of strong earthquakes in March 1993 was not followed by an eruption.