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Hundreds remain on higher ground in PNG following volcanic
eruption

Posted at 21:30 on 22 May, 2007 UTC

Hundreds of people on Siassi Island in Papua New Guinea remain on higher
ground following a volcanic eruption at the weekend.

The local Disaster and Emergency centre in Morobe province says up to two
thousand people fled their homes after the eruption on nearby Ritter Island,
which sent a tidal wave washing over villages on the eastern part of Siassi.

The centre’s director, Roy Kamen, says smoke is still coming out of the
volcano, and a few tremors are still being felt.

He says villagers are being told to stay on higher ground until there is more
information from the local volcanic observatory.

“We are still waiting for them to
advise us on the status of the situation. Only four houses were destroyed,
according to reports we received as of yesterday. I think most of the houses
are intact, people just for safety reasons, they just moved out of their
village to higher ground.”

Mr Kamen says there have been no reports of casualties but helicopters have
been unable to reach the area to check on the situation.

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