Vanuatu Volcano Erupts Throwing Out A Massive Ash Cloud That Threatens The South Pacific
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Pastor Dale Morgan
May 31, 2010, 1:54:15 AM5/31/10
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Perilous Times
Vanuatu Volcano Erupts Throwing Out A Massive Ash Cloud That Threatens The South Pacific
* From correspondents in Auckland
* From: AFP
* May 31, 2010 3:34PM
A GIANT plume of volcanic ash is threatening villagers in Vanuatu and disrupting flights in the Pacific, scientists and officials say.
Forecasters in New Zealand said the cloud, spewing from Vanuatu's Mount Yasur volcano, was about 1800 metres high and covered an area of about 340 square kilometres.
Tourists have been urged to stay away from the volcano on Tanna island, which has disrupted domestic flights in neighbouring New Caledonia.
Peter Korisa of the National Disaster Management Office, who is on Tanna to assess the situation, said lava and hot rocks had been spewing from the volcano and ash was raining down on nearby villages.
"There are 6000 people in the villages around the volcano, we're not moving them out yet," Mr Korisa said.
"All tourists and tourist operators have been asked to not access the volcano. The access is restricted."
Tristan Oakley, an aviation forecaster with New Zealand's Meteorological Service, said authorities had issued an advisory and it was up to airlines to avoid the affected area or cancel flights if necessary.
The plume has forced New Caledonia's AirCal to cancel two internal flights and delay another, although disruption remains tiny compared to the havoc recently seen in Europe - including a week-long shutdown in the continent's north in April.
Air Vanuatu local supervisor David Dick said flights were still running between the South Pacific country's capital, Port Vila, and Tanna island, while tourism officials also said the industry was unaffected.
However, Australia on Friday issued a travel advisory saying visitors were now barred from the volcano.
"Public access to the volcano is now strictly prohibited and people living in the risk zone should move to safer areas," the advisory said.
Vanuatu was rocked by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Friday, prompting a brief tsunami warning.
The archipelago, which lies between Australia and Fiji and north of New Zealand, was hit by three major quakes in October.
Vanuatu Volcano Erupts Throwing Out A Massive Ash Cloud That Threatens The South Pacific
* From correspondents in Auckland
* From: AFP
* May 31, 2010 3:34PM
A GIANT plume of volcanic ash is threatening villagers in Vanuatu and disrupting flights in the Pacific, scientists and officials say.
Forecasters in New Zealand said the cloud, spewing from Vanuatu's Mount Yasur volcano, was about 1800 metres high and covered an area of about 340 square kilometres.
Tourists have been urged to stay away from the volcano on Tanna island, which has disrupted domestic flights in neighbouring New Caledonia.
Peter Korisa of the National Disaster Management Office, who is on Tanna to assess the situation, said lava and hot rocks had been spewing from the volcano and ash was raining down on nearby villages.
"There are 6000 people in the villages around the volcano, we're not moving them out yet," Mr Korisa said.
"All tourists and tourist operators have been asked to not access the volcano. The access is restricted."
Tristan Oakley, an aviation forecaster with New Zealand's Meteorological Service, said authorities had issued an advisory and it was up to airlines to avoid the affected area or cancel flights if necessary.
The plume has forced New Caledonia's AirCal to cancel two internal flights and delay another, although disruption remains tiny compared to the havoc recently seen in Europe - including a week-long shutdown in the continent's north in April.
Air Vanuatu local supervisor David Dick said flights were still running between the South Pacific country's capital, Port Vila, and Tanna island, while tourism officials also said the industry was unaffected.
However, Australia on Friday issued a travel advisory saying visitors were now barred from the volcano.
"Public access to the volcano is now strictly prohibited and people living in the risk zone should move to safer areas," the advisory said.
Vanuatu was rocked by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Friday, prompting a brief tsunami warning.
The archipelago, which lies between Australia and Fiji and north of New Zealand, was hit by three major quakes in October.
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