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WORLD NEWS Friday 4 May 2018

Vanuatu plans to permanently

evacuate entire volcanic island

By NICK PERRY ready hundreds of people nificant ash fall, would love
Associated Press have moved to temporary to be anywhere else on the
WELLINGTON, New Zealand shelters on parts of the is- planet. Others have strong
(AP) — The Pacific nation land that are not so affect- cultural associations.”
of Vanuatu is preparing to ed by the ash. Scott said the Manaro
permanently evacuate the Ambae is about 400 square volcano on Ambae is-
entire population of one of kilometers (154 square land had a large eruption
its islands as thick ash spew- miles) and is one of about about 400 years ago and
ing from a volcano kills 65 inhabited islands in has had several smaller
crops, dirties water supplies Vanuatu, which is home to eruptions over the past 100
and fouls the air. 280,000 people. years. There have been
The 10,000 or so people Vanuatu sits on the Pacif- three phases in the current
who remain on Ambae is- ic’s “Ring of Fire,” the arc eruption, with the most re-
land have mixed feelings of seismic faults around cent phase, which started In this Oct. 1, 2017, file photo provided by GeoHazards Divison,
about the plans. Some the Pacific Ocean where in March, producing the Vanuatu Meteorological and GeoHazards Department, steam
who are badly affected by earthquakes and volca- most ash. rises from the volcanic cone that has formed in Lake Vui near
the ash are eager to leave noes are common. He said the volcano has the summit of Ambae Island, Vanuatu.
while others are resisting Brad Scott, a New Zealand actually quietened down Associated Press
losing their land and cul- volcanologist with GNS Sci- over the past two weeks, Asked if there was a spokesman, said that was
ture. ence who has been sec- although there is no way chance that the residents not a question for him.
The island was temporarily onded to help Vanuatu of predicting if and when might be able to one day “We don’t know,” he said.
evacuated last September authorities, said more than the next explosive phase move back to the island, “You’ll have to ask the
when the eruption cycle one-quarter of Ambae would begin. Bule, the government volcano.”q
began. This time, authori- has been severely impact-
ties are planning a perma- ed, with many traditional
nent move. thatch roofs collapsing un-
Government spokesman der the weight of the thick
Hilaire Bule told The Asso- ash.
ciated Press on Thursday He said traditional gardens
that he expects the Coun- have been buried and
cil of Ministers to approve killed in some places and
a relocation plan by next water supplies have been
week. Bule said the island- discolored and the wa-
ers would be offered resi- ter tastes strange. He said
dence on two neighboring there is lots of fine-grained
islands. ash, which can affect peo-
“It’s not an easy decision,” ple’s breathing and respi-
Bule said. ratory functioning.
He said there were many Other countries including
details to work through, in- France, New Zealand and
cluding providing schools Australia provided aid and
and facilities to the dis- financial help for the ear-
placed residents and ne- lier evacuation. Australia
gotiating land and new on Thursday announced it
homes for them. was providing 300,000 Aus-
Many people have close tralian dollars ($226,000) to
family and spiritual ties to help with the island’s per-
the islands where they’ll manent evacuation, with
be relocated, Maewo and a focus on the needs of
Pentecost, Bule said. Tradi- women, children and peo-
tional religion even has it ple with disabilities.
that the islands are part of Despite the problems, Scott
a family — Pentecost be- said, many people want to
ing the mother, Maewo the stay put.
father and Ambae the son. “There has been significant
Most people on Ambae pushback in the commu-
live a subsistence lifestyle nity,” Scott said. “Some
by farming and fishing. Al- people, suffering from sig-