Mt Ulawun volcano erupts, Nakanai locals displaced

Volcanic activity at Mount Ulawun in West New Britain Province has been upgraded to a Stage 4 alert as of last night.

The Rabaul Volcano Observatory says Mt Ulawun erupted between 3pm and 4pm on Monday, and is still in an active phase, with the possibility that a moderately high level of seismic activity could continue indefinitely.

Before any help arrived, people living around the Navo and Ulamona Mission Station areas near Mt Ulawun were told to move away from the ash fall areas and wait for the seismic activities to subside.

Clement Baili, of the provincial disaster and emergency services directorate, confirmed the eruption, saying teams are now being dispatched to help with the evacuations.

"The volcano has erupted and there is huge ash fall, the pyroclastic is flowing towards Noau and ash is sweeping across Navo" he said.

He said the provincial government was ready to assist locals affected by the eruption.

The volcano last erupted in 2019.