Incredible images as volcano in Papua New Guinea erupts and diverts international flights
INTERNATIONAL flights have been diverted and several communities evacuated after a volcanic eruption from Mount Tavurvur volcano in Papua New Guinea.
The volcano on the East New Britain Island erupted just before dawn and sent plumes of smoke and ash into the air.
It comes as Iceland issued its highest alert level for the Bardarbunga volcano as it showed the first signs of an eruption.
People living in the nearest town to the volcano in Papua New Guinea are on alert and some flights have been diverted around the affected area.
Qantas said it was altering the path of a handful of international flights in the area, but that the moves would only add five minutes to the scheduled time.
"Flight paths between Sydney and Narita (Tokyo) and Sydney and Shanghai have been altered as a result of the volcanic ash cloud over Rabaul in easternPapua New Guinea," Qantas spokeswoman Sarah Algar said.
These incredible images show the plumes of smoke being sent up into the sky above Papua New Guinea.
The Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said residents of Rabaul town, the provincial capital, have been advised to remain indoors to avoid falling ash.
Local resident David Flinn told Australian Broadcasting Corp the volcano was emitting steam and occasionally boomed. Mr Flinn said about half an inch of ash covered surrounding areas.
In 2010, an ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland closed much of Europe's airspace for six days.