10 Jun 2010

Activity at Vanuatu's Yasur volcano calms

6:30 pm on 10 June 2010

The volcano on Vanuatu's Tanna Island, Mt Yasur, has had its activity level downgraded to level two.

The Geohazards Unit says explosions have become less frequent but occasional ejections of lava bombs are still occuring around the volcano.

A tour operator in Port Vila, Tony Deamur, says one of his team flew tourists over Mt Yasur this morning.

"Well there wasn't a lot of activity until just as they were about to leave it gave one of its traditional little hellos to everybody and puffed a bit of smoke and rock and things up into the ...and it sort of all feel back into the crater."

The Geohazards Unit says visitors to the volcano are still advised to observe the volcano a safe distance from the vent despite the downgrade which follows almost two weeks of increased activity.