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Volcano erupts on Red Sea island Volcano erupts on Red Sea island
(about 2 hours later)
A search for survivors is under way after a volcano erupted on a Red Sea island near Yemen. A search for survivors is under way after a volcano erupted on a Yemeni island in the Red Sea, killing at least two people.
The western part of the tiny al-Tair island, used as a military base, collapsed following the eruption, Yemen's defence ministry said. The western part of the tiny al-Tair island, used as a military base, collapsed following the eruption, the defence ministry said.
Coastguards and a Canadian frigate are searching for nine Yemeni soldiers based on the island. Two bodies were recovered from the sea and other soldiers are missing.
Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh flew to nearby al-Hudayda port on Sunday to observe the situation. Yemeni coastguards requested the help of nearby Nato ships in the search and rescue operation.
He ordered Yemen's navy to send rescue teams to the area. The Canadian navy frigate HMCS Toronto was sailing towards the Suez Canal when it received the request.
The Canadian navy frigate HMCS Toronto was sailing towards the Suez canal when it received a request for help in the search and rescue operation. The Toronto's crew told the Canadian Press news agency two bodies had been pulled out of the sea, while one soldier had been rescued.
Other reports, quoting soldiers and government officials, suggested the death toll could be higher.
About 50 Yemeni soldiers were evacuated from the island before the eruption, witnesses and officials said.
Rescuers were scouring the sea for about eight other soldiers who were feared to be missing.
'Aglow with lava'
On Sunday evening, Canadian navy spokesman Ken Allen told reporters in an e-mail that the entire island was "aglow with lava and magma as it pours down into the sea".
Animated guide: VolcanoesAnimated guide: Volcanoes
On Sunday evening, navy spokesman Ken Allen told reporters in an e-mail that the entire island was "aglow with lava and magma as it pours down into the sea".
"The lava is spewing hundreds of feet into the air, with the volcanic ash also 1,000 feet in the air.""The lava is spewing hundreds of feet into the air, with the volcanic ash also 1,000 feet in the air."
The island, some 140km (80 miles) off the Yemen coast, is about two miles long and has been used as a military base since 1996. Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh flew to nearby al-Hudayda port on Sunday to observe the situation.
He ordered Yemen's navy to send rescue teams to the area.
The island, some 140km (80 miles) off the Yemen coast, is about 3km long and has been used as a military base since 1996.
Geologists say al-Tair, which lies on a major fault line, last saw a volcanic eruption in the late 19th Century.Geologists say al-Tair, which lies on a major fault line, last saw a volcanic eruption in the late 19th Century.
Yemeni officials are linking the eruption to several small earthquakes which they say hit the island on Sunday morning.Yemeni officials are linking the eruption to several small earthquakes which they say hit the island on Sunday morning.