Despite the treat of ash, airline services have not experienced widespread turmoil.
Air Vanuatu services between Port Villa and Tanna Island remain unaffected however the ash has caused minor flight disruptions with Air Cal in neighbouring New Caledonia..
Located in the South Pacific’s ‘Ring of Fire’, the region is renowned for its ongoing seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.
“The Mount Yasur volcano has been very active the last three days and the eruption is ongoing,” confirmed New Zealand’s Meteorological Service’s Tristan Oakley.
The department however issued a precautionary warning to airlines to avoid the ash, which now has spread 340 square kilometers across the archipelago.
So far Mount Tanna is causing more havoc on the ground with reports of the volcanic ash contaminating the drinking water.
Of the 6,000 villagers living near the mountain it has been reported that no evacuations have been organised at this point in time.
Access to the volcano however has been restricted although resort owners confirmed that tourists were driving to the fringe of the mountain to watch the natural spectacle, blanketing their vehicles in ash.
The Department of Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory saying Australian visitors were “strictly prohibited” from visiting the volcano.
Vanuatu’s archipelago, located northeast of New Zealand was also struck by three major earthquakes less than seven months ago.
Written by Jill Walsh
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