Ambae fully evacuating again as heavy ash continues blanketing the island, Vanuatu
Image credit: Tristina Karae
Ambae is being fully evacuated again for the second time since September 2017 as heavy ash continues blanketing the island. The possibility that the Ambae volcano activity escalates to the level of moderate eruption is now moderate to high.
Vanuatu officials ordered thousands of residents of Ambae island to leave immediately after eruptions at Manaro Voui (Ambae, Aoba) volcano intensified over the past week.
Ash column rose up to 12 km (39 400 feet) above sea level on July 26, darkening some areas by so much ashfall that vehicles picking villagers up around midday had to use their headlights.
In addition, a major increase in SO2 emissions was detected over the past few days, with levels similar to those measured in early April when the volcano released more sulfur than in any eruption over the past 3 years.
Areas from South-East to East of Ambae including neighboring islands that are exposed to the upper-level wind direction will continue to expect ash fall, the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department said July 26.
Night fall in the middle of the day – Ambae eruption pic.twitter.com/HO6yoJKbkK
— Philipson Bani (IRD/LMV) (@philipsonbani) July 26, 2018
My beautiful home island covered in darkness and thick volcanic ash destroying homes and vegetation. Ambae's volcano is currently at Level 3. Praying for all the families that are waiting to be evacuated! #HomeIsland #Ambae #Manaro #Volcano #ForAmbae #MyLife
PC: John Metojoe pic.twitter.com/tY6R8OweIm— Tristina Karae (@t_karae) July 27, 2018
Heartwrenching images coming out of #Ambae Island, #Vanuatu showing the human cost of the erupting #volcano.
Photo: John Metojoe via @t_karae pic.twitter.com/fRlRsN9ay6
— Nick Howlett (@specificisland) July 27, 2018
#Volcan #Volcano #Ambae Friday, July 27th, 2018
11:20am local time photo Veronica Legler https://t.co/EjNU6g1VJV pic.twitter.com/3MibKp17hi— Shérine (@SherineFrance) July 27, 2018
L’île d’#Ambae au #Vanuatu est toujours en cours d’#évacuation après l’éruption du #volcan Marano. Une colonne de cendres, dépassant au moins 5km au-dessus du cratère (27/07/2018) a été observée d’après certaines sources. La visibilité est inférieure à deux mètres par endroits. pic.twitter.com/nrjFbPCV0R
— Charles Baudry (@CharlesBaudry) July 27, 2018
#Volcan #Volcano #Ambae Video de Phill Wyllie https://t.co/BS28goGGiZ pic.twitter.com/UWonL1jEgM
— Shérine (@SherineFrance) July 27, 2018
The Manaro #volcano on #Vanuatu's Ambae Island erupted today. Here's a view of the ash cloud in the South Pacific, from the #Himawari-8 satellite. pic.twitter.com/7NV5Ut9llY
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) July 26, 2018
The volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 3 and danger to direct safety to life for visitors and communities remains at 3 km radius around the eruptive vent.
Similar activity will continue to be expected at Level 3. However, the possibility that the Ambae volcano activity escalates to the level of moderate eruption is now moderate to high.
The local population from Ambae and from neighboring islands will continue to hear rumbling, volcanic explosions, smell volcanic gases, see volcanic ash and gas column and glows over the mountain at night.
All tourism agencies, local authorities, people of Ambae and the general public are highly advised to consider this information, VMGD said.
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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