3 Aug 2009

Anatahan status reviewed by CNMI authorities

2:28 pm on 3 August 2009

The Northern Marianas's governors office says the public's safety will be at the heart of the decision about whether to lift a disaster emergency regulation on Anatahan island.

The regulation has been in place for the past six years after the Anatahan volcano erupted, but it expired last week.

The territory's Emergency Management Office has applied for a thirty day extension to assess whether to lift it, as the volcano seems to have entered a quiet phase.

The governor's office spokesperson, Charles Reyes, says it will follow the experts' advice.

"We're very cautious. Our prime concern is the safety of the people who may be in the vicinity. There's not actually a whole lot of people travelling that far north. I don't imagine that the traffic would increase dramatically if this state of emergency would be lifted soon."

Charles Reyes says it's unclear whether any of the former inhabitants would return to the island, which harbours no electricity, running water or other infrastructure.