The East Epi underwater volcano, located in Vanuatu in the Pacific, erupted on Wednesday spewing ash up to 100 meters high. Authorities advised ships and aircraft to avoid the area.
“We ask local people to be careful of possible strong explosions as the eruptions are still ongoing,” said Ricardo William, a volcano specialist with Vanuatu’s Department of Meteorology and Geological Hazards.
“A Bad Smell of Sulfur”
A 10 km security perimeter has been established around the underwater volcano, which is located 68 km north of Port Vila, the capital of this Pacific state. Steam had been reported over the site, then the volcano had started spewing ash on Wednesday morning.
The volcanic activity began shortly before 8 a.m. local time (2100 GMT Tuesday), according to the local meteorology department.
Government official Philip Dick said the ground began to shake and smoke was seen over the site in the early hours.
“Then the explosions started, there is still a bad smell of sulfur in the nearby villages,” he added.
Residents of neighboring islands are urged to avoid the coast
Authorities raised the volcanic alert to the first level (of five), indicating “minor disturbances.”
Residents of the nearby islands of Epi and Tongoa have been told to avoid the coast. The ministry said in a statement that although the tsunami warning center located in Alaska (USA) did not detect any activity in the Vanuatu region, “these types of eruptions have the potential to create tsunami waves.”
Vanuatu lies in an area of high seismic activity, also called the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates meet.
Source: BFM TV
