Volcano erupts in PNG

Very late getting news up on this one, but better late than never. I've had an email from someone on the ground, and things sound like they're worse than the Australian media indicated...

Volcano erupts on PNG island

October 8, 2006

Huge clouds of ash billow from Mt Tavurvur after it erupted yesterday, sending locals fleeing.
Photo: AAP

A volcanic eruption on the Papua New Guinea island of New Britain yesterday caused panicked residents to flee homes and sent ash plumes 18 kilometres into the air.

Mount Tavurvur on the outskirts of the former provincial capital Rabaul erupted around 8.45 am local time with a blast which shattered windows up to 12 kilometres from the caldera.

"It was quite scary, but it's quiter now and has quietened considerably through the day," Rabaul Volcanological Observatory chief surveyor Steve Saunders told Reuters.

In 1994, a large eruption on Mt Tavurvur and the nearby Vulcan peak destroyed much of Rabaul, covering the airport and much of the town with ash, and forcing the construction of a new capital, Kokopo, 20 kilometres away.

PNG's Mining Department said in a volcano bulletin that ash was falling on Kokopo, causing power and phone cuts.

Saunders said magma had been welling up inside the 688 metre (2,200 foot) peak since 2005 and contained large amounts of gas, which accounted for the explosive force of the eruption.

"Today looks like the activity it has been building up to, so it should fall off now," he said.

Saunders said vulcanologists expected the peak to quieten quickly, but the volcano was still surrounded by gas and dust, making it hard to assess damage amid rumours lava had flowed from a previously unknown vent. There were no reports of death or injuries.

Rabaul Chamber of Commerce President and hotelier Bruce Alexander told Australian Associated Press that around 2000 people - or 90 percent of the local population - had fled the town as Mt Tavurvur erupted.

All flights into Tokua airport across the harbour from Rabaul had been cancelled due to ash falls.

Papua New Guinea lies on the Pacific Ocean "ring of fire", and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common.

REUTERS

Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Date: 13 Oct 2006

Papua New Guinea: Mount Tavurvur Volcano DRED Bulletin No. MDRPG001

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries. In Brief This DREF Bulletin is being issued based on the situation described below reflecting the information available at this time. CHF 30,000 was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to recover the distribution costs incurred in the Papua New Guinea Red Cross initial relief activities and to replenish disaster preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population. This operation is expected to complete in one month, by mid November 2006. A final report will be made available three months after the operation by February 2007. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

The Situation

On Saturday (7 October), Mount Tavurvur situated on the outskirts of Rabaul (a town on the eastern tip of the New Britain Island) erupted with a blast that caused windows some 12 km (7.5 miles) away to shatter according to the UNOCHA situation report. Some 2,000 panicked residents (representing approximately 90 per cent of the local population) have been evacuated from areas experiencing heavy ash falls. The worst affected communities include Matupit, Bai, Nordup, Matalau, Rakunat, Koere and Rabuana. There have been reports of minor injuries.

The National Disaster Centre announced that 1,221 people from the towns of Matupit and Rabual have been evacuated by sea to Vunapope Mission Station. Some evacuees have been moved to designated resettlement blocks at Sikut, Gelegele, Clifton and Warema which were established by the East New Britain Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) after the 1994 explosive eruption. The local Red Cross branch reported that three main informal care centres have been established at Sikut, Tavuiliu and Vunapope Catholic Mission where basic health, food and water services are provided. The PDC is conducting assessment, addressing food need and securing public infrastructure.

According to the Rabaul Volcanology Observatory (RVO), volcanic activity has subsided and continues to decline. Seismicity is at background levels and land deformation rates are low. Thin to moderate pinky-white haze emissions continue to be produced, rising to <1,000m>

The government has declared state of emergency although this is likely to be lifted in the following days. Schools remain closed but commercial activities continue in Rabaul. Public security measures are tightened to ensure law and order.

A major concern is potable water due to insufficient transport links and contaminated local supplies. Immediate needs also include tarpaulins, water containers, facemasks and food within the affected communities and the informal care centres. Red Cross and Red Crescent action.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Papua New Guinea (PNG) : Jacqueline Boga, Secretary General, PNG Red Cross Society hqpngrcs@online.net.pg;phone: + 675 325 2145

In the Pacific Region: Pankaj Mishra, Disaster Management Delegate/Acting Head of Delegation pankaj.mishra@ifrc.irg; mobile: +675 682 4868 or Martin Blackgrove, Regional Disaster Management Delegate in Suva regional delegation martin.blackgrove@ifrc.org; Phone +679 3311 855

In Geneva: Asia Pacific Department, Hyun-Ji Lee, Regional Officer; phone +41 22 730 4260, hj.lee@ifrc.org;

Full report (pdf* format - 111 KB)