Mt Ruapehu's volcanic alert level reduced

Gas emissions are back to normal levels and volcanic tremors have declined.
Gas emissions are back to normal levels and volcanic tremors have declined. Photo credit: Getty.

The volcanic alert level for Mount Ruapehu has been reduced to one.

Last month, the volcano was moved to alert level two as its crater lake temperature increased to 43C.

Moderate to strong volcanic tremors and shallow earthquakes were also recorded during that time.

The largest earthquake was on December 26, measuring at a magnitude of 2.2, right under the volcano.

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence says the activity on the mountain has decreased over the past two weeks.

It says gas emissions are back to normal levels and volcanic tremors have declined.

GNS science says temperatures in the crater lake remains high but that is not of concern.

RNZ