Japanese and American scientists are checking cracks on the volcanic Island in Vanuatu fearing "an extremely explosive event" with Pacific wide impact. Ambrym Island in Vanuatu suddenly rose 80cm in a magnitude 7.00 earthquake on November 27. AFP. Christchurch Press Page 15, 11 December 1999.

Ambrym, Vanuatu, Southwest Pacific : Location: 16.2S, 168.1E Elevation: 4,375 feet (1,334 m)Ambrym Island is a large shield volcano with a caldera. The caldera formed in about 50 A.D. with an eruption of VEI 6. It is also a very active volcano with 48 eruptions since 1774. Most of these eruptions are at cones inside of a caldera (5.5 by 7.5 miles; 9 by 12 km).The eruptions are explosive and usually from a central vent, There have been a few flank eruptions. Fifteen erupts produced lava flows. Ten eruptions involved a lava lake. There were fatalities in two eruptions at Ambrym. In 1894, six people were killed by volcanic bombs and four people were overtaken by lava flows. In 1913, 21 people were killed during an explosive eruption. Acid rainfall in 1979 burned some of the inhabitants. Local water supplies were contaminated and had a pH of
5.2-5.5.

Search found this reference which indicates ash to 9000 feet today!

WVFJ01 NFFN 110000
110120 NFFNYMYX
NFFF SIGMET 01 VALID 110115/110715 UTC NFFN-

VA [AMBRYM] NEAR 16.2S 168.4E EXTENDING TO 9000FT. MOV SE 05 KT.
http://www.sopac.org.fj/weather/ashj01us.txt