Manam residents suffer respiratory problems after eruption

Transcript

Disaster officials in Madang Province in Papua New Guinea say there are concerns locals may suffer respiratory problems after the eruption of Manam Volcano on Friday.

In November 2004, a major eruption killed five people and forced the emergency evacuation of over 9000 residents. 10 years on, many of them are still living in temporary housing.

Head of the Provincial Disaster Management, Danny Aloi, explained to Indira Moala, the impact of the Volcano's latest eruption.

DANNY ALOI: The thickness of dust was estimated around 1-2 cm thick. There were at least some lava stones that were spewed out of the volcano as well according to the report that we got back on Saturday morning. The island was affected and stretched as far as the district township of Bogia. It spewed out that far - the impact of the dust coverage.

INDIRA MOALA: In terms of the impact it's had on the island, and especially in the town of Bogia, how has it affected daily living there?

DA:  In terms of casualty there was no casualty except one school child that was hit by the pellets that came out of the volcano but the concerns at the island now after the dust fall is there was a shortage of clean water supply plus some medical attention would be required especially to counter the effect of the dust.

IM:  I imagine that it really has a huge impact on those that might be asthmatic or have breathing problems.

DA:  Exactly, yes, those are the concerns in fact the team that came back from Manam reported that we expect to have people having respiratory problems and related problems as a result of the dust.  Of course the food gardens, that has gone and we have some concerns on food shortage on the island plus the island that is next to the main island of Manam.

IM:  So this is just the impact of the dust that has fallen?

DA:  Yes.  In the context of Manam history, I am sure you are aware of it, there were two full villages that went back and some have gone back after coming out of the care centres.  The majority of the population on the island are still in the care centres meaning that they are not affected by the eruption itself.  

IM:  And they're still living in those care centres which is temporary housing since the major eruption that happened over ten years ago now, is that right?

DA:  Yes, that's right.

IM:  For those that are living on the island, especially with the eruption that happened in 2004 and killed five people and forced the evacuation of over 9,000 residents at that time, are they quite apprehensive of when the next eruption might be from the volcano?

DA:  Yeah.  They are aware of the instability of the island itself and the uncertainties associated with it.  They are aware of it.

IM:  Do you sense at all that there might be any further eruptions or has it quietened down a bit?

DA:  It has quietened down back to stage one but that is again uncertain but it is being monitored by volcanologists.