Australian Navy to Help 11,000 Flee Danger From Vanuatu Volcano

(Bloomberg) -- Australia is sending a naval vessel to help Vanuatu in its efforts to evacuate 11,000 residents from Ambae Island as a volcano there threatens to erupt.

The HMAS Choules left Australia on Saturday morning and is expected to arrive in the middle of next week, the Australian government said in an emailed statement. The Choules is carrying specialists, supplies and a landing craft. Australia has committed A$250,000 ($196,000) to provide supplies and sent a team of humanitarian and military experts due to arrive Saturday.

In Vanuatu, a fleet of ships including ferries and commercial vessels has begun moving people from Ambae to nearby islands. The Choules can carry more than 300 troops, along with landing craft, tanks and trucks, as well as operating Navy helicopters, according to the Australian Navy’s website.

To contact the reporter on this story: Garfield Reynolds in Sydney at greynolds1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stanley James at sjames8@bloomberg.net, John McCluskey