Papua New Guinea's Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards says there is no volcanic eruption on the island of Biem in East Sepik province.

Photo: EMTV Online

Reports from East Sepik in recent days indicated that volcanic activity had increased on Biem in conjunction with nearby Kadovar island, which began erupting earlier this month.

However, Loop PNG reported the Department as saying there is no volcanic activity on Biem and that pictures purporting to show a plume of ash over the island are actually a long-standing thermal feature.

The provincial government had ordered the populations of both Biem and Kadvoar, as well as that of nearby Ruprup be evacuated as a precaution.

PNG's Defence Force is leading the evacuation of 5000 people to the mainland, which could take over a week.

Meanwhile, Wewak-based EM TV reporter Jack Lapauve said locals feared some sort of chain reaction of volcanic activity through the islands.

But he said, for now, the volcanic activity on Biem is not major.

"There's just a small spewing of dust, and frequent earthquake activity going on, but it's not at a big scale, it's just a bit, not very long. But the Governor said that they don't like to take a risk, so they will move everyone off. Yes, all three islands.. all the islanders will be relocated to the mainland."