Whangaehu River

Bridge over the Whangaehu at Tangiwai

The Whangaehu River is one of the major rivers in the North Island of New Zealand. It rises in the crater of the volcano Ruapehu in the Tongariro National Park. It flows about 13 kilometers southeast of Wanganui at Ratana in the Tasman Sea. The river is about 140 kilometers long.

As at December 24, 1953 collapsed a part of the Ruapehu Crater, created a lahar that followed the river and a bridge over the river, near the village of Tangiwai weakened. A few minutes later the bridge collapsed under the night train between Auckland and Wellington. In the misfortune 151 of 285 people on board died. To the misfortune of Tangiwai New Zealand was worst train accident.

The last lahar occurred in March 2007. Authorities, however, had taken timely action for the protection of human life.

• River in Australia and Oceania
• River in New Zealand
• Manawatu -Wanganui (Region)
• Water system Tasman