SYDNEY -- A volcano in Papua New Guinea spewed lava and ash into the sky on Friday, as residents fled and flights were diverted.
Mount Tavurvur, in the town of Rabaul in East New Britain province, erupted at 3 a.m. Friday morning, local time.
The Papua New Guinea Post-Courier reported that residents heard a loud rumbling followed by the sight of ash spewing into the air.
As residents living near the volcano evacuated the area, people in surrounding towns were advised to stay indoors.
Photos of the eruption are flooding Twitter, as the plume reportedly stretches 18 kilometers into the air.
Incredible images coming out of #Tavurvur this am - wishes of safety to all in #PNG http://t.co/hRSk5Ztbdh pic.twitter.com/PXa3XeUy1s— Elizabeth Feeney (@libfeeney) August 28, 2014
Mt #Tavurvur #volcanoe has erupted this morning in Rabaul, #PNG. First major eruption after 20 years. pic.twitter.com/KNSzUjizcK— Hubert Namani (@hhnamani) August 28, 2014
Volcanic activity more then usual in Rabaul. #PNG #ENB pic.twitter.com/sd1U48O67O— Rumet (@RumetDW) August 28, 2014
More images appearing online of Mt Tavurvur erupting. #Rabaul #PNG #volcanowatch pic.twitter.com/u8UX2eXndW— Martyn A Namorong (@Mangiwantok) August 28, 2014
Tavurvur volcano at it again. #PNG #ENB pic.twitter.com/vcIM4qJId2— Rumet (@RumetDW) August 28, 2014
These pics of Mt Tavurvur #volcano in #PNG are incredible (Kokopo/LilyPNG) pic.twitter.com/FHmOhy9Img— Sam Bolitho (@SamBolitho) August 29, 2014
More pics of Mt Tuvurvur #volcano #PNG via Kokopo/LilyPNG pic.twitter.com/CF1kndXp7x— Sam Bolitho (@SamBolitho) August 29, 2014
Mt Tavurvur erupted this morning#EastNewBritianProvince#PNG pic.twitter.com/QawHp7MjBk— Rosebuds (@tongamp_g) August 29, 2014
Australian airline Qantas has diverted flights away from the affected area. Virgin and Jetstar are operating as normal.
"Flight paths between Sydney and Narita and Sydney and Shanghai have been altered as a result of the volcanic ash cloud over Rabaul in eastern Papua New Guinea," a spokesperson said. "The QF21, QF22 and QF130 will now fly over central Papua New Guinea to avoid the cloud."
Flight QF21 and QF22 are flying from Sydney to Tokyo, while QF130 flies from Shanghai to Sydney. The new flight paths will only impact flight times by approximately 10 minutes.
Known as the most active volcano in Rabaul caldera, Mount Tavurvur erupted with Mount Vulcan in 1994, devastating the nearby Rabaul township and killing five people. The most devastating eruption was in 1937, when the two volcanoes also erupted simultaneously, and killed 507 people.