Red warning to airlines as Papua New Guinea Ulawun volcano erupts, residents flee

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Papua New Guinea’s volatile Ulawun volcano which is designated as one of the world’s most hazardous erupted on Wednesday, spewing lava high in the air. It sent residents fleeing.

A pilot for Niugini Helicopters flying near the crater witnessed a column of lava spurting vertically into the equatorial sky, along with ash that has been belching since early morning.

Ulawun, on the remote Bismarck Archipelago chain, is listed as one of 16 “Decade Volcanoes” targeted for research because they pose a significant risk of large, violent eruptions.

As per West New Britain Disaster Office, the volcanic activity at Mt Ulawun began at 7:00 am this morning after slight rumbling and light emission. The lava has cut off the main highway in north of the island.

The Rabaul Volcano Observatory has declared a stage one alert warning of a possible eruption. It said that the emissions from the volcano were getting darker, indicating a higher ash content — which can cause breathing problems, eye irritation and skin irritation because of the high acid content.

Japanese satellite imagery and sources on the ground had shown sulphur dioxide and now volcanic ash drifting from the crater. Villagers living at the base of the volcano had already been evacuated.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said that the ash reached more than 13 km (44,000 feet) into the air.

The bureau’s Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issued a “red” warning to airlines, indicating the eruption was imminent, although there is not believed to be an immediate threat for flight routes.

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