Thousands flee erupting volcano in Papua New Guinea
Thousands of people have fled an erupting volcano in Papua New Guinea which is spewing ash up to four miles into the air.
The Mount Pago volcano in the nation's West New Britain province erupted on Monday, forcing the evacuation of more than 6,000 villagers at the base of the volcano.
No-one has been injured, but a few elderly people have been treated for breathing difficulties caused by the massive cloud of ash.
The eruption has forced the local airstrip to be closed, with authorities now scrambling to find disused World War II strips which may be able to accommodate light aircraft carrying relief supplies.
Experts said the volcano, some 310 miles north-east of the capital city of Port Moresby, last erupted in 1912.
Papua New Guinea lies on the Pacific's volcanic belt known as the "Ring of Fire."
In April, 36 villagers died when a landslide buried their village in more than 10 metres of mud.
The disaster, at Kobung in central Papua New Guinea, struck while the villagers were asleep in their huts.
