Vanuatu: Full-scale evacuation of Ambae Island Sep. 28 /update 1

Event

On Thursday, September 28, officials ordered the unprecedented evacuation of the entire island of Ambae following the eruption of Mount Manaro on Tuesday, September 26. Authorities have warned that there is a high likelihood of a full-scale eruption, which would trigger the highest level warning. All 11,000 residents of Ambae Island will be evacuated to other islands in the Pacific state by Friday, October 6.

Context

Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office announced the initial evacuation of over 6000 of the island’s residents from areas around the volcano after it first began erupting on September 26. Authorities had already raised their alert to Level 4 (the second-highest) over the weekend, signaling that the volcano was in a “moderate eruption state,” warning of significant risk from airborne rocks and volcanic gas.

According to media sources, Manaro has been active since 2005, when it last erupted. Vanuatu is located in an active seismic belt known as the Pacific Ring of Fire and frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Advice

Individuals present in affected areas are advised to monitor the situation, if possible register with your local embassy, and follow evacuation instructions issued by local authorities.