Entire Vanuatuan island evacuated

WELLINGTON: Thick volcanic ash billowing across the Vanuatuan island of Ambae has prompted the evacuation of its entire population.

Vanuatu cabinet minister Ralph Regenvanu yesterday announced the Government had reimposed a state of emergency and ordered the compulsory evacuation of Ambae.

The volcano at the island’s centre has been coming to life in spurts since it prompted people to flee in September, but authorities last week again raised the alarm.

In recent days, thick ash has blanketed the island and blocked out the sun. Hundreds of households have already voluntarily registered for evacuation and departed.

Vanuatu Red Cross staff have been on the ground assisting those leaving and report several villages have been left uninhabitable, while visibility has been cut severely short, and roads made inaccessible.

‘‘We tried to travel to the south today, but we have to turn back, because trees are falling, visibility is very, very poor, we cannot see far more than 2m,’’ disaster response controller Augustin Garae said on social media this week.

Communications networks in the area were failing, the organisation said.

Ambae is about 400sq km and one of about 65 inhabited islands in Vanuatu, which is home to 280,000 people. — AAP