The Tangiwai disaster in New Zealand happened on the night of December 24, 1953, when a train fell into the river after a section of the railway bridge had been swept away by a massive avalanche from the steep slopes of the volcanic Mt. Ruapehu. Ruapehu had 3 lakes, and it was known that avalanches, or Lahars, as they are called (Maori ?) occurred from time to time. I don't know if this is caused by volcanic activity or just heavy rain. The incident was very traumatic for the local people as part of the train landed on the mountainside and passengers suffered horrific injuries. Many bodies were covered by the avalanche of mud, and bodies were found on the mountainside for some time after the accident, leading to routine police murder enquiries which for the locals just stirred up unpleasant memories..
tangiwai disaster
unfortunately, 151 people died in the Tangiwai disaster
The Tangiwai disaster occured in 1953, on 24 December.
The Tangiwai Disaster.
24 December 1953
Quite badly.
The Tangiwai Disaster occured at 10:21pm on 24 December 1953, New Zealand time. (9:21am on 24 December 1953 UTC)
The disaster occured at the North Island Main Trunk bridge over the Whangaehu River at Tangiwai. Tangiwai is located on the south-eastern side of Mount Ruapehu, around 10km east of Waiouru, and 20km east of Ohakune, in the North island of New Zealand.
Why don't you look it up instead of being lazy
Charles John Henry Parker
After the Tangiwai Rail disaster in 1953, the community came together to support one another through fundraising, emotional provision, and offering practical help. Similarly, after the Mt Ruapehu disaster in 1953 where a lahar occurred, emergency services worked alongside local communities to provide aid and support to those affected.
Tangiwai NZ, Christmas Eve 1953