Eruption prompts rescue efforts

By Gynnie Kero in Wewak
A team comprised mostly of police and military personnel from Moem Barracks (2RPIR) in East Sepik has travelled out to the affected Kadovar Island to assess the damage caused by a volcano which had been dormant for decades.
Kadovar, which is part of the Schouten islands group, is 18 miles off the mouth of the Sepik River.
A spokesperson from East Sepik Governor’s office Chris Bais said the volcano became active on Friday and almost 60 per cent of the island has been covered with lava.
Bais, who went on an aerial tour of the island on Saturday, believed that the 600-plus islanders may have been evacuated and brought to safety. Wewak MP and Inter Government relations Minister Kevin Isifu yesterday said a Government team was stationed on Ruprup island next to Kadovar with rations, fuel etc to assist the islanders as well as monitor and assess the situation.
Isifu said relevant Government agencies have been informed on the situation at Kadovar.
“A team has gone out and is stationed at Ruprup, they will assess and tell us where people fled and their needs,” he said.