Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Volcanic eruption in CNMI

Posted at 01:43 on 31 May, 2010 UTC

Pilots and seamen in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are being warned to keep away from an underwater volcano which has erupted.

The Governor Benigno Fitial declared a State of Emergency at the weekend following the eruption of the volcano south of Sarigan Island.

Sarigan is uninhabited, but travellers are being cautioned to keep at least five nautical miles clear.

Our correspondent in Saipan, Mark Rabago, says the Emergency Management Office is monitoring the impact but so far little is known.

“Current evidence points to a source being the submarine sea mount, south of Sarigan, that there was a cloud that contained either ash or water vapour that appeared north of Anatahan volcano and now coming towards the CNMI and Guam.”

Mark Rabago says a team of scientists is expected to investigate the eruption.