Papua New Guinea volcano eruption leads to local evacuations and some flight diversions

CANBERRA, Australia – A volcanic eruption on Papua New Guinea has led to nearby communities being evacuated and some international flights being diverted.

The Australian government said authorities in the South Pacific nation had evacuated communities close to Mount Tavurvur, which erupted early Friday in Rabaul district on East New Britain Island.

The government said in a statement that residents of Rabaul town, the provincial capital, had been advised to remain indoors to avoid falling ash.

Qantas Airways said the ash cloud from the volcano had prompted minor alterations to flight paths between Sydney and Tokyo and between Sydney and the Chinese city of Shanghai.

The volcano destroyed the town of Rabaul in 1994 when it erupted simultaneously with nearby Mount Vulcan.