In late September, Vulcan and Tavurvur - 2 volcanoe near the port of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, spewed out dense smoke and poisonous fumes, throwing the country into a panic, Suffocated residents were forced to flee the port, whid was covered with volcanic ash about a metre deep. The ash had mixed with rainwater to form a grey mud that threatened to bring down buildings and trees. According to Leith Anderson, director of the National Disaster and Emergency Services, the eruptions were "the greatest disaster to hit Papua New Guinea in recent times".