Photos of erupting volcano in Vanuatu
Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com
December 7, 2005
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The Manaro Volcano of Ambae Island, Vanuatu in the South Pacific erupted in spectacular fashion early Thursday. The volano shot steam, toxic gases and ash up to 1,500 meters (4,500 feet) into the air.
Thousands of villagers were evacuated from the path of a possible mud flow that could result from the eruption. A “red zone” has been declared around the volcano and several ships were ready to evacuate islanders if the situation worsens.
The island of Ambae is little more than the peak of a volcanic mountain rising dramatically from the sea. The island’s 10,000 residents rely mostly on cash crop production.
Ambae may have been an inspiration for James Mitchener’s “Balai-hai” in the famous novel “Tales of the South Pacific.”
This story used information from Reuters and the AP.