Volcano erupts in Papua New Guinea forcing communites to evacuate and flights to re-route
No immediate reports of injuries or damage but local residents have to leave their homes and Australian airline Qantas changes route of three flights after ash rises
A volcano erupted today in eastern Papua New Guinea, spewing rocks and ash into the air, forcing the evacuation of local communities and flights to be re-routed, officials and reports said.
Mount Tavurvur, which destroyed the town of Rabaul when it erupted simultaneously with nearby Mount Vulcan in 1994, rumbled to life early this morning on the tip of the remote island of New Britain.
“The eruption started slow and slowly developed in a Strombolian [low level] eruption with incandescent projections, accompanied by explosion noises and ongoing loud roaring and rumbling noises,” the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said.
Flight paths between Sydney and [Tokyo] Narita, and Sydney and Shanghai have been altered as a result of the volcanic ash cloud over Rabaul in eastern Papua New Guinea
The Australian government issued a warning against travelling to the area.
“Authorities have evacuated communities close to the volcano,” it said. “Residents of Rabaul town have been advised to remain indoors to avoid falling ash.” it said.
