Acid rain falls on Vanuatu islands as volcano continues to belch ash

The Vanuatu government has opted against a mass evacuation of communities on Ambae island despite ongoing acid rain caused by the Manaro Voui volcano. A team from the National Disaster Management Office will be deployed to assess the damage and declare disaster zones, with a budget of 20 million vatu (US$170,000) allocated for the effort.

Acid Rain Impacts and Volcanic Activity

Acid rain from the Manaro Voui volcano is impacting water and food supplies on Ambae, located 310km northwest of Port Vila. Authorities report that toxic ash is covering the island, and wind changes have spread the acid rain to Santo, Malakula, Pentecost, and Ambrym islands.

Levu Antfalo, director of the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazard department (VMGD), described the effects of the acid rain. “It burns, right because it contains sulphuric oxide, it rains down and becomes acid rain. It burns their crops, pretty much anything that it gets in contact with, water as well. Usually those who use wells, drums, tanks that are not covered could be affected, but bore hole water seems to be okay,” he said.

The ash fall is also altering the pH levels in water sources, affecting both crops and marine life. “I mean it burns their protein source, like vegetables.. We were told as well it increases the PH of water as well as prawns and fish that are there (in rivers),” Antfalo added.

Government Response and Contingency Plans

Climate change minister Ralph Regenvanu stated that while the volcanic activity fluctuates, the alert level remains at three on a scale of five. He noted there is no mandatory evacuation at this stage, but residents in the most affected areas are encouraged to relocate to safer parts of the island if they feel unsafe.

“Even though on Ambae we are hearing the activity of the volcano is changing, sometimes it is increasing and sometimes it is going down, it is still only at alert level three,” Regenvanu said.

The Council of Ministers has approved an emergency plan for a potential escalation to alert level four, which would necessitate a full island evacuation and disaster declaration.

Concerns from Residents

Some residents have expressed frustration with the government’s response. Edwin Tarai, who evacuated Ambae in 2018 and now lives in Santo, said people on the island are concerned about a lack of clear action. “There is no plan of moving out at the moment but there is a concern. People are complaining and wondering what is the government’s next move,” Tarai said.

Residents report increasing noise levels from the volcano, impacting communication and causing discomfort. Nixon Garae, a tug boat captain in Santo, relayed concerns from relatives in East Ambae. “They said the noise is very loud because when people are talking you can’t hear the other person talking. It is causing ear pain because it’s very loud and heavy,” he said. “Last Saturday when they were in church, when the preacher stood up at the front, they could hardly hear him because the noise was too loud.”

Volcanic Activity and Safety Precautions

Yannick Behr, a volcano duty officer with New Zealand’s GNS Science, described Ambae as an active shield volcano situated on a rifting zone caused by the subduction of the Australian plate. He noted that the current plumes reach approximately four kilometers above sea level.

The geohazards department has reminded residents to stay outside the three-kilometer radius danger zone around the crater and to take precautions to protect their water and food supplies. An aviation warning for volcanic ash cover over the island was issued on Thursday.

“Just a reminder that the danger zone is a three kilometres radius around the crater. So do not go close to it,” Antfalo said. “Things to take care of include water, protect your water supply. It will also affect food gardens. And also those with respiratory illnesses…this can affect the health of families that live close to or in the surrounding areas of Ambae.”