27 Aug 2018

Santo opens community centre for Vanuatu evacuees

11:37 am on 27 August 2018

The first community centre for the evacuees from the Manaro volcanic eruption on Ambae, has been opened on Santo in Vanuatu.

Main street in Luganville on Santo, Vanuatu

Main street in Luganville on Santo, Vanuatu Photo: wikicommons / Simon Sees

The Daily Post newspaper reported the Takaro Community Centre has been officially opened at Fanafo, a sprawling community about 30 kilometres inland from Luganville.

It follows the mandatory evacuation of the about 11,000 people from Ambae after the entire island was showered with a thick layer of volcanic ash.

The National Disaster Management Office said most people voluntarily moved to Santo.

Official reports said about 7,000 Ambaeans are on Santo with most of the others on Maewo.

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