Undersea volcano inundates island with 'desert' of rocks
An undersea volcano off Papua New Guinea has covered surrounding islands with a large field of pumice rocks reaching the surface. Local authorities said fishing and inter-island transport were significantly affected, and coastlines would need weeks of clean-up.
According to local-authority statements relayed by ABC News Australia, an undersea volcano off Papua New Guinea has produced a wide, continuous 'desert' of pumice that has surfaced. Carried by wind and currents, the rocks have reached the shores of several surrounding islands and blanketed their coastlines.
Regional authorities said fishing operations, small-boat traffic and inter-island transport had been significantly disrupted. The pumice layer makes it difficult to berth at jetties and poses a risk to engine propellers, so most services have been temporarily suspended.
Papua New Guinea's Disaster Management Centre has requested technical support from Australia and New Zealand. The Pacific Community Secretariat (SPC) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have coordinated regional marine-biology monitoring teams; possible long-term effects on coral reefs are being watched closely.
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