The number of evacuees leaving the Vanuatu island of Ambae where the Manaro volcano continues to belch ash and smoke is higher than expected and continues to climb.
Around 3500 evacuees arrived in Santo overnight bringing the total number of evacuees there close to 5000 with three to four thousand still yet to depart Ambae.
According to the Sanma provincial office 19 evacuation centres on Santo are already filled to capacity and about a thousand evacuees have yet to be processed.
It says the original figure of 11000 given for Ambae's total population could be too low.
The dramatic increase in arrivals is also being put down to many evacuees refusing to go to evacuation centres on other islands like Maewo and Pentecost.
Sanma provincial officer Jacques Tronquet spoke with Koroi Hawkins in Santo.
Listen
The volcano on Ambae is belching a plume of smoke and ash. Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins