A state of emergency has been declared on Vanuatu's Ambae, as the island becomes uninhabitable amid a continuing volcanic eruption.
The Council of Ministers says it is planning another mass evacuation of the island's 11,000 residents, and a taskforce is said to be negotiating resettlement on nearby Maewo and Pentecost.
On Ambae, houses and trees are collapsing under the weight of the toxic ash being dumped across the island, food and water supplies are contaminated, and a raft of health issues have been reported.
An Ambae community leader, Nadia Kanegai, told Sara Vui-Talitu while the news is welcome the people need more details.
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Damage to vegetation from heavy ashfall during continued eruptions of Vanuatu's Ambae volcano, March 2018 Photo: RNZ Pacific