The 9,000 residents of Manam will have to leave their island home because volcanic ash has choked off their food supply, Papua New Guinea officials said Saturday. The volcano on Manam has been active for more than a month, spewing volcanic ash over the vegetable plots that keep the villagers in food. Australia's ABC Radio reported that 20 houses had collapsed under the weight of volcanic ash and the decision had been made to evacuate the islanders. The villagers were be taken to the mainland and resettled in Bogia near Madang. The Manam volcano was last active in 1996 when 13 villagers were killed by a lava flow.
