Key facts
- An undersea volcano eruption in Papua New Guinea's Bismarck Sea has caused extensive pumice rafts to inundate Manus Island's coastlines.
- The pumice has blocked boat access, damaged fishing grounds, and disrupted sea transport for local communities.
- Residents are experiencing immediate concerns over food and water availability due to the inability to fish or travel.
- The Papua New Guinea government is conducting assessments and determining response measures.
- The Titan Ridge volcano has been erupting sporadically since early May.
Coastal communities on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island are facing a significant environmental and humanitarian crisis following sporadic eruptions from an undersea volcano in the Bismarck Sea since early May. Thick rafts of pumice stone, a lightweight volcanic rock, have blanketed the island's south coastline, severely impeding boat access, damaging vital fishing grounds, and disrupting essential sea transport.
Residents, like Councillor Raymond Simeku from Baon village, describe being trapped, unable to travel for fishing or trade, likening the situation to being stuck in a desert. The pumice coverage is also raising alarms about its detrimental impact on marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and fish populations, and is straining freshwater supplies as people resort to using drinking water for bathing.
Former Manus MP Ron Knight has characterized the event as a disaster, noting rafts up to 3 kilometers wide and 5 kilometers long, which are preventing boats from leaving beaches and potentially blocking access to the main town, Lorengau.
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape has acknowledged the situation, stating that the government is conducting urgent assessments to understand the full scope of the event and prepare for potential worst-case scenarios. Scientists from the Rabaul Volcanic Observatory are monitoring the Titan Ridge volcano, noting that while activity has reduced, the pumice is still being transported by currents and wind, with the potential for further buildup or dispersal.