An fleet of ferries, trawlers and other boats is heading towards the Vanuatu island of Ambae, as the country prepares to evacuate about 5% of its population.
The government yesterday decided to evacuate the whole population of Ambae, as the island's volcano continues to erupt.
The volcanic alert at the Manaro Voui crater is at level four with warnings of flying rocks, volcanic gas, acid rain and ash falls.
More than 7000 people are already crammed into coastal evacuation centres, as a thick layer of volcanic ash and acid rain blankets villages and crops.
The disaster coordinator on Ambae Manuel Ure said authorities were hoping to clear the whole island ‑ more than 11,000 people ‑ this weekend.
Source: RadioNZ
