Vanuatu's Council of Ministers is holding an urgent meeting this morning to discuss the possibility of a mass evacuation from Ambae Island.
Ambae's Manaro volcano was upgraded to level four activity five days ago with the Geohazards Department warning of flying rocks, volcanic gas, acid rain and ash falls.
RNZI rpeort the coordinator for the Vanuatu Redcross Dickenson Tevi said shipping vessels were on standby awaiting the decision.
He said it was likely Ambae's population of 10,000 will be evacuated to neighbouring islands including Santo, Pentecost and Malekula.
"The whole island itself, it is not safe with the way the activity has been ongoing at level four until now. So we are just waiting on the Council of Ministers decision this morning and there might be a major change of plans."
Mr Tevi said people had been displaced before due to eruptions but there has never been a complete evacuation of the population of any island.
Photo Yumi Toktok