Volcano Erupts in Papua New Guinea

Sydney (PNA/Xinhua) — Papua New Guinea police have warned local residents to stay indoors after a volcano erupted on Friday morning.

The eruption occurred in Tavurvur on PNG’s East Britain Island, at 3 a.m. local time and local residents have reported sounds of rumbling and plumes of volcanic ash rising high in the sky.

The volcanic ash could disrupt air flights from Australia, according to the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, Australia.

Senior meteorologist Ian Shepherd said the volcanic eruption reached the top of the atmosphere at 50,000 feet which is the same height as which planes travel.

“It’s too early to say at this point if the ash cloud will reach Australia but it was a significant eruption,” he told news. com.

Tavurvur, on the tip of New Britain island in the country’s east, has previously erupted in 1937, 1994, 2006 and again last year. (PNA/Xinhua) LAM/EBP

Image Credit: shantan.wordpress.com