KOKOPO, Papua New Guinea, June 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Papua New Guinea’s volatile Ulawun volcano is reported to have started throwing up ash Wednesday, prompting an eruption warning from an Australian
meteorological department.
“The volcanic activity at Mt Ulawun began at 7:00 am this morning after slight rumbling and light emission,” according to Leo Porikura, an official with the West New Britain Disaster Office, reported the Jakarta Post quoting AFP.
“The Rabaul Volcano Observatory has declared a stage one alert warning of a possible eruption.”
Witnesses reported ash spewing out of the 2,334 metre (7,657 foot) summit, sending trails spanning high overhead.
Villagers living at the base of the volcano were also reported to have been evacuated.
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 or underway, although there is not believed to be an immediate disturbance for flight routes.
A team of experts had visited earlier this month and reported the volcano was “quiet” adding “there is no indication of any change in its state of unrest.”
The ash emissions are said to have been proceeded by an increase in seismic activity in the region.
–NNN-AGENCIES
