Vanuatu orders volcano-hit island to evacuate again

WELLINGTON: Vanuatu renewed a state of emergency on the volcano- hit island of Ambae yesterday and ordered the compulsory evacuation of all residents.

A series of eruptions at the Manaro volcano that began last September intensified this week, sending a 12 kilometre column of ash spewing into the atmosphere.

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo- hazards department has described the volcano as a ‘danger to direct safety to life’ and warned people to stay three kilometres from its vent.

“The local population from Ambae and from neighbouring islands will continue to hear rumbling, volcanic explosions ( and) smell volcanic gases,” it said.

The Red Cross reported that a thick cloud of ash had covered the Pacific island, choking crops and cutting visibility to two metres in some areas.

Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the government had decided to order the island’s population to be evacuated.

“Cabinet has reimposed the state of emergency and ordered the compulsory evacuation of the entire population of Ambae,” he tweeted.

The island has already undergone two evacuations since September.

In the first one, just after the volcano started rumbling, authorities scrambled to temporarily remove all 11,000 residents using ferries and small private boats.

The second evacuation in May was better organised, with thousands of people shipped to camps set up on neighbouring islands.

However, it was not compulsory and many villagers indicated they wanted to stay.

It is unclear whether the government is planning to make the latest compulsory evacuation permanent. — AFP