Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

People refusing to return home until PNG volcano assessed

Posted at 03:45 on 23 May, 2007 UTC

The hundreds of people who fled their home on Siassi Island in Papua New Guinea are refusing to return home until they get an assurance that the volanic eruption which drove them to higher ground at the weekend won’t happen again.

Reports from the local disaster and emergency centre in Morobe province say up to two thousand people fled their home after the eruption on nearby Ritter Island.

A resident on Siassi Island, Stella Aitova, says they’re still waiting for the experts to assess the volcano and people won’t return home until then.

“They are still on the high ground because we are not sure if people come to check us, whether the eruption will come again.”

Thera has been no confirmation yet from the provincial administration office in Morobe as to when it can send a party through to Siassi Island.