Volcanic activity in the Papua New Guinea town of Rabaul is now at its highest point since the devastating eruption of 1994 which wiped out two thirds of the town.

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Up to 40 centimetres of volcanic ash blankets the community and surrounding mountains.

Up to 40 centimetres of volcanic ash blankets the community and surrounding mountains.

There are concerns the oncoming wet season rains will create mudslides.

Ima Itikarai from the Rabaul Observatory says ash on rooftops is also a problem because it turns to mud in rains, collapsing some homes.

"It could sort of increase again but that's difficult to say - but at the moment the trench of the activity we are monitoring is sort of also showing signs of the eruption ending, but that has been contrary to what we've been seeing during the past two months, so you know things can change," he said.