Transcript
GODWIN LIGO: Pentecost is about 30 kilometres away from Ambae.
DON WISEMAN: So very close in terms of this ash cloud. So what is the extent of the ash that is falling I think, mostly on north Pentecost.
GL: There has been a severe ash fall on north Pentecost where we find the ash covering the garden crops, the trees and plants and over the last three days people couldn't even see through a thick cloud and they were forced to use the torch light and likewise they had to use the lanterns in the homes in broad daylight. Layers of ash have covered the grass. You don't see green grass any more.
DW: And the ash fall is continuing now, on Monday afternoon?
GL: yes indeed. It slowed down the day before yesterday but today it is continuing.
DW: Now we know that the government is talking about a mandatory evacuation of Ambae but the situation is clearly getting very poor on north Pentecost, what are they going to do there?
GL: The Council of Ministers has decided that there is a need for water to the supplied to the people of north Pentecost immediately because of the effect and impact of ashfall on their water.
DW: If their crops have ash on them is that thick enough to kill the crops or will it wash off in the next rainfall? How serious is it?
GL: From what I gather from people up in north Pentecost is that if it remains like this for the next couple of days or a week then the garden crops are practically damaged already.
You don't see the green leaves anymore and the crops under the ground like sweet potato and cassava and all that will be OK for a period, but the banana trees and tropical fruits and cabbages an vegetables above the ground would be damaged and practically they will not be edible anymore.
DW: So what is happening south of north Pentecost? What is happening on the rest of Pentecost and on Maewo.
GL: The rest of the island is not so bad from what I gather from people on the island but Maewo is feeling the effect because north Pentecost and the southern tip of Maewo are very, very close. You are talking about less that 30 minutes, 20 minutes by speed boat. South Maeo is also affected like north Pentecost.
DW: As we say there is going to be this mandatory evacuation off Ambae but the way it is going there could be a need to evacuate people from parts of Pentecost and parts of Maewo.
GL: Practically I think that will be the answer. It is getting worse already as a matter of fact and events like this for another two or three days, surely there would be a need for a mandatory evacuation of the people from north Pentecost and south Maewo. But that is up to the determination of the National Disaster Management Office and the Government of course, but in reality it looks like it will if it continues like this for another week.
