Mount Lamington Eruption – photos from Fred Kleckham
Mount Lamington began to erupt on the night of January 18, 1951. Three days later there was a violent eruption when a large part of the northern side of the mountain was blown away and devastating pyroclastic flows (steam and smoke) poured from the gap for a considerable time afterwards.
The area of extreme damage extended over a radius of about 12 km, while people near Higaturu, 14 km from the volcano, were killed by the blast or burned to death. The pyroclastic flows and subsequent eruptions of dust and ash which filled streams and tanks, caused the death of some 3,000 persons, and considerable damage. More than 5,000 people were made homeless.
Rescue parties which arrived on the scene were hampered by suffocating pumice dust and sulphurous fumes, and hot ashes on the ground. The advance post of relief workers at Popondetta was threatened with destruction by other eruptions during the several days following. Further tremors and explosions occurred during February. As late as 5 March a major eruption occurred which threw large pieces of the volcanic dome as far as three kilometres and caused a flow of pumice and rocks for a distance of 14km, the whole time being so hot as to set fire to every tree in its path.
A personal account of events related to the devastating eruption can be found in the Book “The Volcano’s Wife” HERE.
Mt. Lamington in background. Tony Taylor, the volcanologist, in front of DH84 Dragon
Mt. Lamington devastation
Mt. Lamington Eruption -Jeep in a tree 21st January 1951
Mt Lamington - Jeep in a tree
Mt Lamington Lava Dome
Mt. Lamington smoke. The building visible is the Anglical Martyrs Memorial School just outside Popondetta.
Burnt man and his burnt family escaping the volcano. He is carrying his son and the umbrella is being held by his daughter. That young boy may still be living in Oro Province.
Mt. Lamington requiem mass on the roadside. - 24th January 1951. L to R Ivan Champion with hat in hand, Administrator JK Murray with sunglasses, Dr John Gunther (my godfather) JS Grimshaw Commissioner of Police Tall man with surgical mask around his neck is Patrol Officer Des Martin. The others are unnamed. One is clearly a native policeman.
Mt. Lamington in 2014
