Date: Tue, 21 Mar 1995 08:29:08 MST
From: INCIDENT%CMSNAMES.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu
Subject: Vanuatu: Volcano Alert IFRC-02
INFORMATION BULLETIN No. 02 14 March, 1995
VANUATU - VOLCANO ALERT
The situation on the Pacific island of Ambae in Vanuatu, where
a volcano shows signs of erupting, remains threatening, the
national Red Cross reported today.
The volcano, which last erupted in 1914, has been showing
signs of activity, including a large steam burst and cascades
of steam and ash, since the beginning of this month. It is
situated in the south of Ambae, one of more than 80 islands
that comprise Vanuatu.
The Chief Executive of the Vanuatu Red Cross, Andrew Mckie,
told the Secretariat the Society has sent two field officers
to the area under threat, which has a population of between
2,000 and 3,000. They have been conducting disaster
preparedness briefings in villages, identifying vulnerable
groups and briefing local RC branch members.
The two officials told their national headquarters that
communities close to the volcano, where steam and ash eruptions
are clearly visible, were very concerned by the danger. They
have welcomed the briefings "and now have a much better idea
how to react." Some voluntary evacuations have taken place,
they report, but the villages that have taken in the evacuees
"have not been overwhelmed and are coping with their own
resources."
The National Society's disaster preparedness measures are being
taken in co-ordination with Vanuatu's National Disaster Office.
The Federation Secretariat has made a provisional allocation of
CHF 50,000 from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, in case
emergency assistance is required. The Federation's Regional
Delegation for the Pacific, based in Sydney, is monitoring the
situation through regular contacts with the Vanuatu RC. Further
information will be shared with National Societies as and when
it becomes available.
distributed by
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request sitreps: incident@vita.org
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