Rumbling volcano sparks mass exodus on Pacific island

A rumbling, belching volcano that is threatening to blow has forced more than 7,000 people to flee their homes on an island in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

Authorities have declared an emergency on Ambae island, where activity in the Manaro volcano has increased recently, raising fears of a major eruption.

About 10,000 people live on the island and villagers close to the volcano have been moved to schools and community halls on the island’s less vulnerable eastern and western regions.

For those displaced villagers, it is now a waiting game to see whether the volcano erupts or returns to normal activity which is not a threat to them.

Shadrack Welegtabit, the director of Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office, said a ship had arrived on Wednesday carrying food, water and other essential supplies.

He said a second ship was due to arrive on Friday.

Vanuatu’s Meteorology and Geohazards Department said in an alert that villagers within four miles (6.5km) of the volcano face the biggest risk from airborne rocks and volcanic gas. The department warned that acid rain could damage crops across a broader area.

Vanuatu is about a quarter of the way from Australia to Hawaii. It is made up of 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited and is home to around 280,000 people.

Picture: AP. Huge columns of smoke billowing from the crater of an erupting volcano on Vanuatu’s Ambae Island.