Volcano erupts on Papua New Guinea island

CANBERRA: A volcanic eruption on the Papua New Guinea island of New Britain on Saturday caused panicked residents to flee homes and sent ash plumes 18 kilometres into the air. 

Mount Tavurvur on the outskirts of the former provincial capital Rabaul erupted around 8.45 a.m. with a blast which shattered windows up to 8 miles from the caldera.   

"It was quite scary, but it's quiter now and has quietened considerably through the day," Rabaul Volcanological Observatory chief surveyor Steve Saunders said.   

In 1994, a large eruption on Mt Tavurvur and the nearby Vulcan peak destroyed much of Rabaul, covering the airport and much of the town with ash, and forcing the construction of a new capital, Kokopo, 20 kilometres away.   

PNG's Mining Department said in a volcano bulletin that ash was falling on Kokopo, causing power and phone cuts.    Saunders said magma had been welling up inside the 688 metre peak since 2005 and contained large amounts of gas, which accounted for the explosive force of the eruption.   

"Today looks like the activity it has been building up to, so it should fall off now," he said.   

Saunders said vulcanologists expected the peak to quieten quickly, but the volcano was still surrounded by gas and dust, making it hard to assess damage amid rumours lava had flowed from a previously unknown vent. There were no reports of death or injuries.   

Rabaul Chamber of Commerce President and hotelier Bruce Alexander told Australian Associated Press that around 2,000 people -- or 90 per cent of the local population -- had fled the town as Mt Tavurvur erupted.   

All flights into Tokua airport across the harbour from Rabaul had been cancelled due to ash falls.   

Papua New Guinea lies on the Pacific Ocean "ring of fire", and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common.