Underwater volcano erupts, photographs go viral

Vanuatu: An undersea volcano in Oceania has erupted and sent an explosion of ash from the water. The incident took place five days ago and the volcano is in the territory of the island nation Vanuatu.

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department (VMGD) confirmed increased activity near the East Epi volcano and shared a map with a 10-km risk zone. The volcano is still submerged.

Government official and eyewitness Philip Dick said the ground began trembling in the early hours of the day and smoke was seen rising above the site. Then the explosions began. The bad smell of sulphur is still remaining in nearby villages, reported AFP.

The South Pacific nation's official department shared images of the eruption online and wrote: "Early this morning, reports and observations from locals at Epi indicate an increase in the activity of the East Epi submarine volcano at around 7:48 am with steam over the submarine volcano area. There are also reports of Sulphur dioxide followed by phreatic explosions propelling ash some 100 meters high."

"People on Epi, Tongoa, and the surrounding islands are advised to stay clear of the coast as phreatic explosions may continue and could generate small waves," it added. Vanuatu is located in the Pacific Ocean's Ring of Fire which makes it particularly vulnerable to cyclones, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.

The images showed plumes of thick smoke coming from the sea and it looked like clouds floating above the water in different shapes. Several netizens expressed wonder and appreciation for the beauty of the photos.