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News > Science and Tech

1,500 More People Moved After Papua New Guinea Volcano Erupts

  • The Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said the volcano had been spewing ash for several days before it blew.

    The Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said the volcano had been spewing ash for several days before it blew. | Photo: Samaritan Aviation

Published 14 January 2018
Opinion

Australian's Darwin Volcanic Ash Centre reported that between 50 and 60 percent of the island has already been covered by lava.

 A second-round of evacuations are underway in Papua New Guinea (PNG)., following a volcano erupting on the island of Kadovar on Friday.

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Ash-Spewing Volcano in Papua New Guinea Forces Villagers to flee

The local Red Cross said about 1,500 people are being moved in this round of evacuation. The government also clear nearby Blup Blup island, from where almost 600 Kadovar-based people were relocated to, on Jan 5.

The Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said the volcano had been spewing ash for several days before it blew. The blast, the release said, spat out glowing red rocks and sulfur dioxide. Australian's Darwin Volcanic Ash Centre reported that between 50 and 60 percent of the island has already been covered by lava.

Thick white steam clouds were seen rising to 600 meters above sea level. Photo: Samaritan Aviation

The Observatory said a dome of lava on Kadovar was visible in the sea and thick white steam clouds were rising to 600 meters above sea level.

“Due to the steepness of the island, landslides are possible, and together with the explosive nature of the magma, tsunamis may be generated. Due to the size of the island, any activity will impact the local population,” the Observatory's statement explained.

Evacuees are being moved to the mainland and the International Red Cross is providing about $26,274 in funding to help them, said PNG Red Cross Secretary General Uvenama Rova.

“The people there, as the volcano erupted, they rushed immediately to escape. So they are in immediate need of food, water, shelter, and clothing as well,” he said.

Advisory Centre's Cheyne O’Brien, said: “It’s just a continuous emission of volcanic ash at the moment.”

Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop posted on twitter that the oceanic nation's government has pledged $19,775 worth of humanitarian supplies.

Vulcanologist Chris Firth detailed that this is the first confirmed eruption reported from Kadovar.

The Kadovar volcano is located 15 miles from the PNG mainland. It is not listed among PNG’s 'active 16' and as a result was not being monitored.

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