Thousands evacuated from Vanuatu

Vanuatu has declared a state of emergency and evacuated thousands of residents from an island in the Pacific archipelago after a volcanic eruption rained rocks and ash on nearby homes, reports and officials said yesterday.

After weeks of rumbling, activity from the Manaro Voui volcano — at the centre of the northern island of Ambae — increased in recent days, the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department said. The department on Saturday raised the alert level from three to four, which represents a “moderate eruption state”, and warned of “flying rocks and volcanic gas” affecting villages up to 6.5km away.

Villages further afield could also be exposed to ash falls and acid rain, it said. Schools were shut and more than 7,000 people were being evacuated.