VANUATU’S aviation warning issued last Thursday remains largely localised as minor eruptions continue within Lake Voui in Ambae Volcano.
A strict three-kilometre danger zone remains in effect around the active vent, designated as Danger Area B.
At this stage, local and international flights have not been affected.
But authorities warn that hazards within this zone include flying stones, ashfall, and potential explosions that could occur at any time.
Authorities have maintained Alert Three status while reporting decreased ash emissions but persistent volcanic gas output, according to the latest update from the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department.
While seismic activity has dropped since Saturday, volcanic tremor levels remain high, indicating ongoing unrest beneath the surface. While volcanic clouds can be seen above the summit, they have decreased in height and turned predominantly white, suggesting the eruption is now characterized more by steam and gas than ash production.
This is a change from early March, when the volcano produced stronger activity with an ash plume reaching approximately 13,000 feet that drifted west on 7th March.
Ground assessments confirm that ash which had fallen on villages in South and West Ambae has, for the most part, dissipated, with any remaining material now confined to the summit area.
Beyond the immediate exclusion zone, residents face secondary hazards. Communities downwind may experience ash and acid rain when volcanic clouds rise to significant heights. A particularly serious warning concerns stream crossings during heavy rain, as volcanic ash deposited in watersheds can generate dangerous mud flows and contaminate drinking water.