Manam volcano spews ash, smoke

THE Manam Island volcano started spewing thick smoke, ash and rock in the early hour’s yesterday destroying villages.
The local volcanologist, Herman Tibong, confirmed that the southern crater began spewing black smoke from 2am to 5am with strong wind carrying the smoke to the mainland.
He said there was a strong rumbling and the spewing thick smoke as high as 1,000-metres above the crater.
Tibong said the main crater was silent, however, and volcanic measurements had stayed normal in the morning.
Charles Yanda, a spokesman from Manam Island, told The National that the black smoke and scoria (black volcanic rocks) had rained over Kuluguma and Yasa villages.
He said the scoria had spewed out in various sizes destroying rooftops of the houses in the two villages.
“The food gardens, coconuts, trees and water wells are being destroyed by smoke and rocks,” he said.
Yanda said they had called the Madang disaster office for help in evacuating the affected people to the mainland.
He said they were yet to get any information of damages from the villages on the western side of the island.
Another spokesman, Reynold Kauke, told The National that Budua village was also impacted by the eruption.