PNG eruption raises fear for villagers

A volcano has erupted in northern Papua New Guinea, raising concerns for the safety of thousands of villagers.

Mt Iabu, on the northern PNG island of Manam, started throwing up lava and ash over the weekend, prompting authorities to advise nearly 3000 villagers to move to safer parts of the island, authorities said yesterday.

A spokesman for the national disaster management office said there had been no reports of casualties but the island remained on a state of high alert as further eruptions were feared in the coming days.

Mt Iabu is about 100km from the resort town of Madang.