Hundreds of residents have forced to evacuate their homes after a surprise eruption from a dormant volcano, carpeting the village below with dust and ash.
A volcanic plume of ash and gases rose more than two kilometres into the air over Kadovar Island off the northeastern coast of Papua New Guinea.
Experts are racing to uncover the cause of the unexpected eruption as lava continues to spew from the volcano, covering more than 50 per cent of the land.
Hundreds of residents have forced to evacuate a surprise eruption from the Kadovar Volcano
The Rabaul Volcanological Observatory has warned that a tsunami may soon hit the island
Wewak District Administrator Ricky Wobar wrote on social media that the situation was ‘critical’ and ‘worsening’.
Authorities rushed to help people displaced by the occurrence as 600 people fled the island, some in dinghies, just after 12pm on Friday afternoon.
According to news.com.au, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory has warned Papua New Guinea that the aftermath of the explosion could be a devastating tsunami.
‘Due to the steepness of the island, landslides are possible and together with the explosive nature of the magma, tsunamis may be generated,’ a report read.
‘It appears a fissure may be opening just inside of the western wall of the vent’s breach, descending down to at least sea level.’
Experts also noted that as there are no eruptions ever recorded from Kadovar, there was little in the way of monitoring for the volcano prior to the new ash emissions.
‘The volcanic activity has increased dramatically since yesterday,’ wrote councilor Tom Kelly
All residents of the island off the coast of Papua New Guinea have been completely evacuated
Even as the neighbouring island of Kopar race to help the remaining residents evacuate, Kopar councilor Tom Kelly announced that ‘the clouds are darker and increasing at an alarming rate’.
Flying over the island with Samaritan Aviation, he wrote, ‘The volcanic activity has increased dramatically since yesterday (Friday).
‘The report we have is that all of the residents of the island have been evacuated and that there has not been any loss of life.’