A volcano in New Zealand that featured as Mount Doom in 'The Lord of the Rings' movies is in danger of erupting as pressure builds in a subterranean vent, officials have revealed.
The Department of Conservation warned hikers to avoid the summit of Mount Ruapehu, saying that temperature readings by scientists indicated there was an increased risk of eruption at New Zealand's largest active volcano, the Daily Mail reported.
"The current situation can't continue, Ruapehu is so active that the temperatures have been going up and down a lot," DOC volcanic risk manager Harry Keys told Radio New Zealand.
"They generally haven't gone up as we've expected for some weeks now and sooner or later that situation will be rectified, either in a small, relatively passive way, or with a significant eruption," he said.
Official monitoring body GNS Science said the temperature a few hundred metres below a lake in the crater of the North Island mountain was estimated at 800C (1,472F) but the temperature at the lake itself was just 20C (68F).
It said this indicated a vent was partially blocked, leading to increased pressure that made eruptions more likely "over the next weeks to months."
The 2,797m (9,177f) mountain last erupted in 2007, sending a lahar - a fast-moving stream of mud and debris - down the mountain but causing no injuries. (ANI)