Mount Ulawan, situated on the remote Bismarck Archipelago chain, displaced between 7,000 and 13,000 people from their homes when it last erupted in June.

ASH cloud spews out of Papua New Guinea’s Mount Ulawun volcano early Tuesday before a column of red lava shot up and forced the evacuation of recently returned residents. AFP

KOKOPO, Papua New Guinea (AFP) — Papua New Guinea’s volatile Ulawun volcano erupted early Tuesday, sending a column of red lava shooting up into the sky and forcing the evacuation of recently returned residents.

Mount Ulawan, situated on the remote Bismarck Archipelago chain, displaced between 7,000 and 13,000 people from their homes when it last erupted in June.

Seismic activity started at midday on Monday before the volcano erupted at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to Rabaul Volcano Observatory assistant director Ima Itikarai.

“It was noiseless and in the dark just before dawn; the eruption was visible (with) a distinct shard (of) red incandescent glow shooting up less than 100 metres from the base,” he told AFP.

As light dawned, billowing clouds of grey ash could be seen rising several hundred meters into the sky, he said, while local Chris Lagisa said residents could hear the noise of gushing gas and flowing lava.

While most people affected by the previous eruption had remained at evacuation centers, an official with the West New Britain Disaster Office said a number who had returned to tend to their homes and gardens at the base of the volcano had to be evacuated again.