Papua New Guinea: Mt. Bagana Volcano Eruption, Autonomous Region of Bougainville - Disaster Management Team Flash Update No. 1, 14 August 2023

This update is produced by the Papua New Guinea Disaster Management Team (DMT) in collaboration with humanitarian partners.

HIGHLIGHTS

• IOM DTM reports 3,303 IDPs from 724 Households in Wakunai and Torokina. Of the IDPs 53 percent were males, and 47 percent females. Numbers are fluctuating as affected population and IDPs are mobile, and some continue to live in original villages/locations.

• ABG government responded initially with PGK150,000 to supply basic food items for displaced populations in Wakunai and Piva Care Centres.

• NFIs including tarpaulins, shelter tool kits, hygiene kits, dignity kits, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, water containers, water purification tablets donated by Australia and New Zealand governments have arrived Buka and further transported by US Military helicopters into Wakunai and Piva Care Centres.

• Key immediate needs include shelter kits, water containers and purification tablets, personal hygiene kits for women and girls, mosquito nets, gender segregated latrines and solar lighting in camps.

• Urgent need to establish monitoring systems at both Mt Mount Bagana and Mt Balbi to determine if eruptions are continuing and will lead to a major eruption or receding to safe levels.

• Urgent need for testing of ash and water samples to determine safety of drinking water at IDP camp sites.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On 7 July, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. PNG time (UTC+10) Mt Bagana, an active volcano located in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville erupted spewing ash reaching 52,500 – 59,100 ft (16 - 18 km), triggering the issuance of an aviation colour code red by the Darwin, Australia, Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC).

The Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) initially recommended a Stage 3 Alert however this has since been revised and downgraded to a Stage 2 alert, indicating the risk level is low-to-medium in areas close to the eruptive source.
As of 18 July, ash fall was reported in all 12 wards within Torokina District, affecting an estimated total population of 8111 people. Heavy ashfall is also being reported at Ruruvu ward (approx. 22 km north of Bagana) in the Wakunai District of Central Bougainville. There are no reports of casualties.

Preliminary reports received from the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) deployment of the Disaster Tracking Matrix indicate 3,303 displaced individuals from 724 households (HHs). These were identified at Wakunai (1,500 individuals from 315 HHs) and Piva station (1,803 individuals from 409 HHs) care centres. Of these 3,303 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), 53 per cent were males, and 47 per cent females. The total number of IDPs is likely to increase as more people evacuate to temporary care centres in the proceeding days.

Two temporary care centers have been set up in Torokina (Piva station) and Wakunai (Wakunai station) and receiving evacuees since 20 July, following the issuance of evacuation notices from local authorities. The Autonomous Bougainville Regional Disaster Office is currently conducting a field assessment to determine the actual number of people affected and the scope of the disaster. The ABG President has also formally requested support from the Government of Papua New Guinea.

On 31 July, the National Disaster Centre (NDC) of Papua New Guinea formally welcomed international support through the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office to formally respond to Mt Bagana Volcano affected populations in Wakunai and Torokina districts. Pursuant to this request, the UN through the Disaster Management Team (DMT) and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), deployed a multi-agency team to conduct assessments of humanitarian impacts of the volcano and to advise development partners on basic needs and priorities of the affected populations. The team was deployed on 7 August and comprised of cluster experts in protection, water, and sanitation (WASH), information management, logistics and emergency operations coordination. The multi-agency team were further supported by shelter, camp coordination/camp management (CCCM) and food security officers from IOM and FAO who had presence on the ground.