SOUTHLAND, New Zealand – Not all avalanches are created equally. Some are made intentionally, with controlled explosives, like a recent avalanche in Southland, New Zealand, set off to avoid an unplanned event.

According to the New Zealand Transport Agency , crews triggered the avalanche above State Highway 94 in Southland using controlled explosives. As a planned avalanche, teams took to the sky and recorded the moment the powerful wall of snow came crashing down.

"Avalanches can seriously affect this part of SH94 (the road connecting Te Anau and Milford Sound)," the agency said. "We trigger avalanches in winter when there's a high risk of an avalanche above SH94."

Before the explosion, the road was closed and not reopened until crews cleared the area.

According to the Transport Agency

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