Climbers flee avalanche on Mt Taranaki

Three men fled for their lives as an avalanche ploughed down Mt Taranaki yesterday.

The 1000-tonne avalanche thundered down the Manganui Gorge about 2.10pm, narrowly missing the three men, who were on the mountain checking conditions.

Brooke Fletcher told the Taranaki Daily News he heard a thunderous sound from above. "I just ran for it," he said.

He had thought the noise was just the wind before looking up to see the snowslip heading towards them.

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council avalanche adviser Todd Velvin said the avalanche started about 2000m up.

"It got airborne as it came over a large cliff, that is when we could hear it," he said.

The track the men were on has been closed to the public because of the danger.

The avalanche was believed to be the biggest since 2001, when part of the track to the skifield was destroyed.

- NZPA