Thousands in need after Mt Ulawun eruption

Officials are working to deliver aid and supplies to 13,000 people who have been forced to flee their homes because of the Mt Ulawun eruption.

Thousands of people from communities near the volcano are now living in care centres and in dire need of fresh clean water and food.

On Tuesday night the evacuees were in four care centres at Pandi, Sovulu, Barema and Bakada.

The provincial disaster committee is coordinating the delivery of relief supplies with the support of New Britain Palm Oil and Hargy Oil Palm Limited at a forward operating base in Bialla.

West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel wants relief supplies delivered as soon as possible to the care centres that are now housing people from the villages of Navo, Ubili, Pandi and the Pata Painave area.

The member for Nipa Kutubu, Dr Billy Joseph, contributed 30,000 kina towards the relief efforts and pledged an additional 20,000 kina to purchase medical supplies.

The provincial health authority has dispatched four medical teams to the four care centres.

Places like Navo and Saltaman bore the brunt of the ash fall from the eruption, which peaked at a stage 4 alert on Monday night.

The latest surge in activity from Mt Ulawun has created new vents.

Disaster officials continue to monitor the situation.