GETTY Thousands were evacuated when the volcano erupted in September 2017

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The Lombenben volcano on the island of Ambae is regarded as one of the most dangerous in the world and increased activity has been recorded at the Manaro Voui crater.



The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) the raised the alert level for the volcano to three on a scale of 0 to 5 last week following increased activity at Lombenben's Manaro Voui crater.



Communities in the northwestern and southern parts of the island have been worst affected, with reports of buildings and trees collapsing under the weight of the ash.



Water supplies have also been contaminated and food gardens smothered.



Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office operations manager Peter Korisa confirmed the authority is in the process of assessing the risk to residents living near the volcano.



He admitted it might be necessary to relocate them but stressed that a longer term solution was needed.



Mr Korisa said: "It is quite different because it is a permanent type of hazard.



“So it remains on the island and it will continue.

“It is a slow onset, can be rapid and go slow onset hazard. So it is quite complicated.



“So we will see how in the future the government might try its best how to come up with some solution.”



Lombenben erupted in September of last year, as well as in 2016, 2005 and 1966.



Last September, the VMGD raised the alert level to four after observing lava at the top of Lake Voui for the first time.

GETTY The aftermath of a volcanic eruption on a neighbouring island in 2010

STREETMAP A map showing the location of the volcano on Ambae