Vanuatu renewed a state of emergency on the volcano-hit island of Ambae Friday and ordered the compulsory evacuation of all residents.
A series of eruptions at the Manaro volcano that began last September intensified this week, sending a 12 kilometre (7.5 mile) column of ash spewing into the atmosphere.
The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards department has described the volcano as a “danger to direct safety to life” and warned people to stay three kilometres from its vent.
“The local population from Ambae and from neighbouring islands will continue to hear rumbling, volcanic explosions (and) smell volcanic gases,” it said.
