The active volcanic island of Ambae in Vanuatu is preparing to evacuate to neighbouring islands for the second time in six months.
Ambae's 11,000 residents have just returned home after last year's evacuation in October land are now preparing to move again.
A state of emergency has been declared due to mass ash falls affecting people and livestock - some homes have collapsed under the weight of the ash.
Jesse Benjamin from the Ministry of Climate Change and Natural Disaster says the most affected communities are to be evacuated first.
"The government is worried about the safety of the people," he said.
Medical teams have flown to the island and say the situation is critical in some areas with ash causing trees to fall and block roads, making it difficult for emergency services to get to evacuation centres.
Respiratory problems like asthma are worsening and there are widespread eye and skin irritations.
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