Volcano evacuation from remote PNG island

An urgent evacuation of 9000 villagers from Papua New Guinea's remote Manam Island began yesterday amid fears that increasing activity in the island's volcano signalled an impending major eruption.

The first batch of around 600 islanders was due to be taken off the island by container boat late last night, an official said.

Clouds of ash were spewing from the volcano, with plumes rising up to 10km above the summit,