Better planning needed

By JESHER TILTO
A PROACTIVE approach is needed in response to natural disasters such as the Mt Ulawun volcano eruption in West New Britain last Monday, provincial disaster committee chairman Leo Mapmani says.
“The behaviour of the Mt Ulawun volcano is unpredictable,” he said.
“We are cautious of that and taking a proactive approach in our response efforts. Mt Ulawun volcano activity has increased over the past few weeks and seismic activity has been fluctuating as well.”
“On Monday, there was a surge in seismic activity which saw glowing and minor lava flow at the summit area of the volcano.
“Our officers are on the ground to monitor and report the situation to the Rabaul Volcano Observatory, which is helping with providing technical information to guide our response efforts.” Mapmani, who is also the acting provincial administrator, said that the situation was similar to that of 2019 when the Mt Ulawun volcano previously erupted.
“On Tuesday, the provincial disaster committee met due to the activity that came about on Monday evening and we have activated our emergency response plan,”he said.
“We have a provincial response plan for Mt Ulawun which we utilised in 2019 and we are still using that same response plan to guide us and there are certain resolutions and decisions that the committee has made.
“We are looking to establish a forward base in Bialla to become our focal point to communicate our response efforts, working with communities and proposing areas for care centre sites, we are continuing to conduct awareness on the evacuation,” Mapmani said.