Papua New Guinea’s Tavurvur Volcano Erupts; Locals Evacuate, Flights Disrupted
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iStock/Thinkstock(CANBERRA, Australia) — Papua New Guinea’s Tavurvur volcano spewed smoke and volcanic ash into the air Friday, with residents in the South Pacific nation evacuated and flights disrupted.
Communities near the volcano were evacuated, while residents of the town of Rabaul were advised to remain indoors to avoid falling ash, according to a statement from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Australia’s Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issued an advisory due to the eruption. Authorities there are making sure that air travel in the region is safe. Qantas flights in the area are taking special care to avoid the volcanic cloud.
Tavurvur most recently erupted last year.
Friday’s activity – which occurred on the eastern tip of the country’s New Britain island – offered tourists amazing views of the volcanic activity.
The volcano has erupted numerous times in recent years, destroying the town of Rabaul in 1994 when it erupted simultaneously with nearby Mount Vulcan.
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