Story: Historic volcanic activity

An eye-witness account of the Tangiwai disaster (1st of 2)

An eye-witness account of the Tangiwai disaster

This view of Whangaehu River bed after the flood had subsided shows the engine and one of the carriages covered in mud. Download the PDF to read Joan Karam's description of the terror of being in one of the carriages that plunged into the river, and how she escaped.

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New Zealand Herald

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, 'Historic volcanic activity - Ruapehu and the Tangiwai disaster', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/6874/an-eye-witness-account-of-the-tangiwai-disaster (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, published 12 Jun 2006