The Manaro Voui volcano is spewing ash and smoke as high as 4km above sea level. Photo / Facebook
By RNZ
The Vanuatu Government has decided against a mass evacuation of communities on Ambae Island affected by acid rain from the Manaro Voui volcano.
On Friday (local time) the Council of Ministers endorsed the recommendations of the National Disaster Committee for a plan of action.
This included approving a budget of 20 million vatu ($290,000) for a team from the National Disaster Management Office to go to Ambae today to assess the most affected parts of the island and have them declared disaster zones.
Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu said evacuation is not mandatory at this stage but people in the worst-affected areas are encouraged to move if they do not feel safe.
“Even though on Ambae we are hearing the activity of the volcano is changing, sometimes it is increasing and sometimes it is going down, it is still only at alert level three,” Regenvanu said.
Regenvanu said plans are in place should the volcanic activity increase even further.
“The council has also approved that if we go to alert level four, which is the worst case scenario, and will require the whole island to be declared a disaster zone and for us to start evacuations, an emergency plan is already in place.”
Acid rain from the volcano on Ambae, 310km northwest of the capital of Port Vila, is reportedly affecting water and food supplies.
Authorities say the volcano is spewing toxic burning ash, which is now covering the entire island because of wind changes.
The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazard Department (VMGD) said acid rain had reached Santo, Malakula, Pentecost and Ambrym islands.
“It burns because it contains sulphuric oxide, it rains down and becomes acid rain,” said department director Levu Antfalo. “It burns their crops, pretty much anything that it gets in contact with, water as well. Usually those who use wells, drums, tanks that are not covered could be affected, but bore-hole water seems to be okay,” he said.
Antfalo said the heavy ash fall also alters the pH levels in water, making it more acidic.
“It burns their protein source, like vegetables... We were told as well it increases the pH of water as well as prawns and fish that are there.”
Edwin Tarai and his family were evacuated after Ambae erupted in 2018 and have never returned.
The 74-year-old, who lives in Santo, said people on Ambae were complaining about Government inaction.
“There is no plan of moving out at the moment but there is a concern. People are complaining and wondering what is the Government’s next move,” Tarai said.
The former nurse practitioner said the noise is increasing and can be heard in east Santo, Pentecost and Ambrym islands.
Nixon Garae, a tug boat captain in Luganville, Santo, has relatives in East Ambae, who described the noise.
“They said the noise is very loud because when people are talking you can’t hear the other person talking. It is causing ear pain because it’s very loud and heavy,” he said.
“Last Saturday when they were in church, when the preacher stood up at the front, they could hardly hear him because the noise was too loud.”
A volcano duty officer with New Zealand’s GNS Science, Yannick Behr said Ambae is a very active typical shield volcano.
“It’s part of a chain of volcanoes in Vanuatu, they’re sitting on a rifting zone that is caused by the eastward subduction of the Australian plate. That tectonic process keeps that volcanism alive so all volcanoes on this rifting zone, they erupt quite regularly,’’ Beer said.
The latest plumes are about 4km above sea level, he said.
The geohazards department has issued a reminder to Ambae residents to stay out of the danger zone.
An aviation warning was issued on Thursday for volcanic ash cover over the island.
In a public address overnight Antfalo warned residents to take precautions.
“Just a reminder that the danger zone is a 3km radius around the crater. So do not go close to it,” Antfalo said.
“Things to take care of include water, protect your water supply. It will also affect food gardens. And also those with respiratory illnesses... this can affect the health of families that live close to or in the surrounding areas of Ambae,” he said.
– RNZ