No casualties but islanders need water and food

MORE than 200 villagers on Manam island have been moved to a safe location following a volcanic eruption on Saturday morning.
Defence Force commander Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo said in Port Moresby yesterday there were no casualties but the islanders urgently needed relief supplies after lava and ash damaged gardens and water sources.
“A Defence Force team is helping the Madang provincial administration and the Madang disaster office in the relief efforts,” Toropo said.
He said one vessel was in Madang to support the Madang disaster office transport relief support to the island.
“The other challenge would be to relocate close to 200 people who have been affected and provide water for them.”
National disaster office director Martin Mose said a national disaster team had been deployed to the island to assess the damage.
He said the level of risk – according to the Rabaul Volcanic Observatory – was stage 3, which was slightly high. It is being monitored.
“So for the safety of everyone, we have to ensure that we do not rule out that the volcano eruption has subsided completely. We all understand that Manam has a volcano character of itself. It tends to die away slowly and then starts to be active again.”