Vanuatu Govt orders mass evacuation of the entire population of Ambae

The Vanuatu Government’s Council of Ministers has ordered the mass evacuation of the entire population of Ambae approximately 11,100 people, on the advice of the Vanuatu Meteorological and Geo‑hazards Dept, who are reporting increasing activity of the Manaro Voui volcano including flying lava, poisonous volcanic gas, acid rain and ash falls.

RNZI is reporting that Ambae’s population will be evacuated by ship to the neighbouring islands of Espiritu Santo, Pentecost and Malakula.

The new order follows evacuations earlier this week of the populations of whole villages in the south of the island who were relocated to north of Ambae.

The Vanuatu Prime Minister’s Office is currently holding a press conference about the order and we will have more details later today.

Source: VanuatuDigest