Ambae is an island located in the South Pacific, Vanuatu, being approximately 165 miles (246 km) NNW of Vanuatu’s capital city Port Vila. This island is home to nearly 11,000 people.



Ashes and gases from the crater has been damaging vegetable crops and caused health problems such as breathing difficulties and skin reaction threatening the local’s lives.



The director general of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Climate Change and Natural Disaster Jesse Benjamin said: “For the state of emergency of Ambae it’s actually because of the heavy ash fall on all parts of Ambae.” The government is now planning to evacuate the whole population of the island permanently.



Ambae is remaining its volcano alert at Level 3 which represents minor eruption. According to Vanuatu Meteorology & Geo-hazard department (VMGD), the possibility for the volcano activity to weaken to the moderate level is very low.



11,000 people will likely migrate to nearby islands of Maewo and Pentecost.