About 500 people have already evacuated from the Vanuatu island of Ambae, as the island's volcano continues to erupt.
The government's ordered the evacuation of the entire island, as the volcano - Manaro Voui - blankets the island in ash and acid rain.
The head of the island's provincial government, Georgewin Garae, on Saturday said about 500 people had already evacuated themselves, either by chartering planes or boats.
But he said the majority of the island's 11,000 people were waiting for the government evacuation, which will start in earnest tomorrow, with ferries starting to arrive today.
"They are inter-island ships which carry upwards of 100 to 150. They will make a number of trips to complete everybody on the island," he said.
Georgewin Garae said the volcano showed no sign of settling down. He said a large series of eruptions on Friday night frightened everyone on the island, and were the largest he'd ever heard.
The head of the province's disaster committee, Manuel Ure, said about 20 flights were scheduled to get people out on Saturday, carrying people to neighbouring islands.
Mr Ure said land had been made available on the nearby islands of Santo, Pentecost, Malekula and Maewo for the evacuees.
Mr Ure said he hoped the evacuations would be complete by the middle of next week.
Photo: Supplied / NZDF. Caption: NZDF infrared footage of Monaro volcano. The brightest parts of the image are the hottest points.