新西兰英语 654 Mount Tongariro erupts after more than a century（在线收听）

 　　On Monday 6 August 2012, the North Island volcano, Mt Tongariro, erupted during the night. It had been dormant for over a century. During the previous month there had been a number of earthquakes below it, but the eruption was still a surprise. Because it occurred during the night, it was difficult to see the effects of the eruption until daylight the following morning. What people saw then was volcanic ash everywhere. Practical information was given to help people nearby to keep safe and protect themselves and their belongings. For example, they were told not to drink any water if it came from the roof of their house. People were also told not to use the windscreen wipers on their cars to try to move the volcanic ash since it is very harsh and would scratch the window. They were also encouraged to stay indoors so they wouldn’t breathe in the volcanic ash. Those with asthma or other respiratory difficulties could be badly affected by breathing it in.