Papua New Guinea volcano erupts sending residents fleeing

The Mount Ulawun volcano is one of the world's most hazardous
The Mount Ulawun volcano is one of the world's most hazardous

Papua New Guinea's volatile Ulawun volcano—designated one of the world's most hazardous—erupted Wednesday, spewing lava high in the air and sending residents fleeing.

A pilot for Niugini Helicopters flying near the crater witnessed a column of lava spurting vertically into the equatorial sky, along with ash that has been belching since .

Ulawun, on the remote Bismarck Archipelago chain, is listed as one of 16 "Decade Volcanoes" targeted for research because they pose a significant risk of large, violent eruptions.

Witnesses said lava had cut off the main highway in north of the island.

"The at Mt Ulawun began at 7:00 am this morning after slight rumbling and light emission," Leo Porikura, an official with the West New Britain Disaster Office, told AFP earlier.

"The Rabaul Volcano Observatory has declared a stage one alert warning of a possible eruption."

Witnesses had reported ash spewing out of the 2,334 metre (7,657 foot) summit, sending trails spanning high overhead.

"The sky has turned black," said Kingsly Quou, manager of the nearby Mavo Estates palm plantation.

Quou said that villagers living at the base of the volcano had already been evacuated and he and his colleagues were gathering their belongings.

Papua New Guinnea volcano
Map locating Mount Ulawun in Papua New Guinea which began spewing ash on Wednesday

Japanese satellite imagery and sources on the ground had shown and now drifting from the crater.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said the ash reached more than 13 kilometres (44,000 feet) into the air.

The bureau's Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issued a "red" warning to airlines, indicating the eruption was imminent, although there is not believed to be an immediate threat for flight routes.

Thousands of people live in the shadow of Ulawun, despite it being one of the most in the country.

Porikura said people living in the vicinity of the volcano had been instructed to move away to safer areas and a disaster team had been dispatched.

"The disaster team will liaise with the local community, local businesses and local level government authorities to prepare for a possible eruption," he said.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said the ash reached more than 13 kilometres (44,000 feet) into the air
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said the ash reached more than 13 kilometres (44,000 feet) into the air

"Three crucial priority areas being addressed include transport plan, care centre preparations and getting the communities in the high-risk areas to prepare for an evacuation," Porikura said.

The nearby Rabaul Volcano Observatory said emissions from the volcano were getting darker, indicating a higher ash content—which can cause breathing problems, eye irritation and skin irritation because of the high acid content.

A team of experts had visited earlier this month and reported the was "quiet" adding "there is no indication of any change in its state of unrest."

The ash emissions had been proceeded by an increase in seismic activity, Porikura said.

© 2019 AFP

Citation: Papua New Guinea volcano erupts sending residents fleeing (2019, June 26) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2019-06-papua-guinea-volcano-erupts-residents.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Volcano erupts on remote Papua New Guinea island

0 shares

Feedback to editors