First known eruption of Kadovar volcano in Papua New Guinea prompts evacuation of 500 people after sending a column of ash 7000 feet in the air

More than 500 people living on Kadovar Island, Papua New Guinea have been evacuated by boats following the first eruption of Kadovar volcano in known history at 12:00 local time Friday, January 5, 2018 or at 02:00 UTC Jan. 6. The volcanic ash cloud was reaching an altitude of 2.1 km (7 000 feet) above sea level. The Aviation Color Code for the volcano was raised to Orange. 50 – 60 percent of the island is already covered by lava. The latest activity at this volcano was a period of heightened thermal phenomena in 1976.