'Lord of the Rings' volcano in New Zealand erupts for the 2nd time

A New Zealand volcano in a national park used as a backdrop for films erupted with a brief blast of dark ash yesterday, cancelling flights, but causing no significant damage.

Schoolchildren and dozens of other hikers who were walking on trails along the mountain's base were safe after the eruption of Mount Tongariro. It was the volcano's second blast in less than four months, sending a dark ash plume about three kilometers into the sky.

Authorities issued a no-fly alert above the mountain located in a sparsely populated area of central North Island.

National carrier Air New Zealand advised travellers that some of its flights could be disrupted. Airline spokeswoman Brigitte Ransom said two flights had been cancelled by the afternoon.

reported that about 100 middle-school pupils and teachers were safe, despite hiking on the Tongariro Track at the base of the volcano. Dozens more adults hiking in the region were also uninjured.

Tongariro National Park has three active volcanoes, is a popular tourist destination and was the backdrop for many scenes in films.