27 Jun 2019

PNG volcano evacuees in need of food, shelter

From , 3:05 pm on 27 June 2019

Thousands of people evacuated from an erupting volcano on Papua New Guinea's New Britain say they need food, shelter and water. 

Mt Ulawun, one of the country's most active volcanoes, started erupting yesterday, although it has started settling down again. 

Chris Lagisa lives in Ulamona Village, which sits at the mountain's base. 

He told Jamie Tahana the sky went dark in the middle of the day, and when the village started being coated in heavy ash, they decided to evacuate some 3000 people about 20 km. 

Papua New Guinea's Mount Ulawun issues steam in November 2017. It is the highest mountain in the Bismarck Archipelago at 2334m, and one of the most active volcanoes in the country.

Photo: AFP / Christoph Gerigk / Biosphoto