Residents on Ambae in Vanuatu are living in fear as their island's volcano continues to belch fire and ash.
An aerial photo of Manaro Voui volcano on 25 September. Photo: AFP / Thomas Boyer
The Vanuatu Geohazards Department last week upgraded the danger level of the Manaro Voui crater to alert level 3 signifying an escalating eruption event.
Disaster authorities are now considering a mass evacuation of people from the southern and northwestern parts of the island which have been worst affected by heavy ashfall.
An Ambae community leader on the nearby island of Espiritu Santo, Nadia Kanegai, has been helping with the relocation of people and organising relief supplies.
She said those affected are in desperate need of water and food and all communities on Ambae are frightened by the intensity of the latest eruptions.
"Yesterday I spoke to some of them they said they were very scared," she said.
"Because the last time when it happened it was only ashes and smoke but this time it was the flame explosion coming up."
"That was very scary for them it was the first time they experienced that," said Ms Kanegai.
"And they could see it from Malekula, Santo, Ambrym they were quite far but they could see the flames very clearly, and Santo."
