KiwiElf
28th September 2017, 20:50
Entire island evacuated as volcanoes rumble in Bali and Vanuatu
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/28/asia/volcano-evacuations-bali-vanuatu/index.html
(Full article, video & images at link)
By Euan McKirdy, Sandi Sidhu and Chieu Luu, CNN
Updated 1722 GMT (0122 HKT) September 28, 2017
Authorities have raised alert levels for a volcano on the Indonesian resort island of Bali after hundreds of small tremors stoked fears it could erupt for the first time in more than 50 years.
Story highlights
Everyone on Ambae island to be evacuated as volcanic activity increases
More than 134,000 have been evacuated around Mount Agung in Bali
(CNN)Thousands of people have been evacuated on the Indonesian island of Bali and on Ambae island in Vanuatu as two volcanoes threaten to erupt.
The entire population of Ambae is being moved from the path of the "increasingly active" Marano volcano, also known as Lombenben, according to the Pacific nation's government.
On the Indonesian island of Bali, more than 134,000 people have been taken to shelters as authorities warn that Mount Agung, in the island's north, could erupt at any time.
Both volcanoes sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic activity that stretches 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) from New Zealand to South America.
That they're showing signs of erupting at the same time is pure coincidence, said Benjamin Andrews, of the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program.
Vanuatu volcano
Vanuatu's Ambae island hasn't been evacuated on this scale since an alert in 2005, Minister of Land and Natural Resources Ralph Regenvanu told CNN.
Most of the island's 11,000 residents are being taken away by boat, but some are also being airlifted to evacuation centers on Vanuatu's Pentecost and Maewo islands.
On Wednesday, a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) aerial survey found "huge columns of smoke, ash and volcanic rocks billowing from the crater of an erupting volcano" on the island, according to a press release from the agency.
The alert level is at 4, the second highest on the scale. "Ambae volcano is in an ongoing moderate eruption state," a statement from Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department said. People in local villages could experience the danger of flying rocks, volcanic gases and acid rain, the statement added.
"The principle concerns here are that the volcano can eject volcanic rocks to distances of many kilometers from the crater, and that the volcano could erupt ash and/or emit sulfur dioxide," said Andrews, from the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program..
Australia had responded to a request for assistance, pledging up to 20.5 million Vatu ($190,000) in "much-needed supplies like food, water, shelter and hygiene kits for affected communities on Ambae," a Vanuatu government statement said Thursday.
Australia was also funding surveillance flights over the volcanoes on Ambae and nearby Ambrym island, it added.
Journalist Mochamad Andri in Bali, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
¤=[Post Update]=¤
Bali volcano update LIVE: Mount Agung eruption IMMINENT – latest graphs, news, maps
BALI’S Mount Agung volcano could erupt “within hours” after more than 130,000 people were evacuated from around the crater, officials have said. Here is the latest news and live updates. (full article at link)
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/859280/Bali-volcano-update-Mount-Agung-eruption-latest-seismic-graphs-news-maps-warnings-live
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/28/asia/volcano-evacuations-bali-vanuatu/index.html
(Full article, video & images at link)
By Euan McKirdy, Sandi Sidhu and Chieu Luu, CNN
Updated 1722 GMT (0122 HKT) September 28, 2017
Authorities have raised alert levels for a volcano on the Indonesian resort island of Bali after hundreds of small tremors stoked fears it could erupt for the first time in more than 50 years.
Story highlights
Everyone on Ambae island to be evacuated as volcanic activity increases
More than 134,000 have been evacuated around Mount Agung in Bali
(CNN)Thousands of people have been evacuated on the Indonesian island of Bali and on Ambae island in Vanuatu as two volcanoes threaten to erupt.
The entire population of Ambae is being moved from the path of the "increasingly active" Marano volcano, also known as Lombenben, according to the Pacific nation's government.
On the Indonesian island of Bali, more than 134,000 people have been taken to shelters as authorities warn that Mount Agung, in the island's north, could erupt at any time.
Both volcanoes sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic activity that stretches 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) from New Zealand to South America.
That they're showing signs of erupting at the same time is pure coincidence, said Benjamin Andrews, of the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program.
Vanuatu volcano
Vanuatu's Ambae island hasn't been evacuated on this scale since an alert in 2005, Minister of Land and Natural Resources Ralph Regenvanu told CNN.
Most of the island's 11,000 residents are being taken away by boat, but some are also being airlifted to evacuation centers on Vanuatu's Pentecost and Maewo islands.
On Wednesday, a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) aerial survey found "huge columns of smoke, ash and volcanic rocks billowing from the crater of an erupting volcano" on the island, according to a press release from the agency.
The alert level is at 4, the second highest on the scale. "Ambae volcano is in an ongoing moderate eruption state," a statement from Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department said. People in local villages could experience the danger of flying rocks, volcanic gases and acid rain, the statement added.
"The principle concerns here are that the volcano can eject volcanic rocks to distances of many kilometers from the crater, and that the volcano could erupt ash and/or emit sulfur dioxide," said Andrews, from the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program..
Australia had responded to a request for assistance, pledging up to 20.5 million Vatu ($190,000) in "much-needed supplies like food, water, shelter and hygiene kits for affected communities on Ambae," a Vanuatu government statement said Thursday.
Australia was also funding surveillance flights over the volcanoes on Ambae and nearby Ambrym island, it added.
Journalist Mochamad Andri in Bali, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
¤=[Post Update]=¤
Bali volcano update LIVE: Mount Agung eruption IMMINENT – latest graphs, news, maps
BALI’S Mount Agung volcano could erupt “within hours” after more than 130,000 people were evacuated from around the crater, officials have said. Here is the latest news and live updates. (full article at link)
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/859280/Bali-volcano-update-Mount-Agung-eruption-latest-seismic-graphs-news-maps-warnings-live