File:Activity at Aoba and Ambrym volcanoes, Vanuatu (MODIS 2017-10-08).jpg

English: On October 1, 2017, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of volcanic activity in Vanuatu. Aoba volcano (also known as Ambae) sits on the northern island and Ambrym is more southerly. Red hot spots mark areas where the thermal bands on the instrument detected high ground temperatures. In this case, the high temperatures are caused by lava lakes, fields, or flow or by steam and ash emitted by volcanic activity.

Vanuatu, located in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,090 miles (1,750 km) east of northern Australia and 340 mi (540 km) northeast of New Caledonia, is home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world, including the near-constantly erupting Yasur volcano on the island of Tanna and the bubbling lava lakes of Ambrym. On 28 September the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory (VGO) reported that minor eruptive activity continued at Ambrym. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 0-5). Areas deemed hazardous were within a 2-km radius from Benbow Crater and a 3-km radius from Marum Crater.

In late September, the Aoba Island volcano (also known as Ambae) began intense rumbling, causing the volcanic alert to be raised to 4, the second-highest level on a five-step scale. Even a moderate eruption at this location would put thousands of people at risk from flying rocks and volcanic gas. On September 23, the government began evacuating about 8,000 citizens from high-risk areas on the island. As of October 6, evacuations have been completed and the volcanic eruption appears to be stable and confined to one location – Lake Voui. The Volcanic Alert Level was lowered to 3 (from 4) and the danger zone has been reduced to 3 km from the active vent in Lake Voui.