An underwater volcano near the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu erupted on Wednesday, sending ash and gas into the sky. Volcanologist Ricardo William told broadcaster Radio New Zealand that planes and ships had been ordered to avoid the area. East Epi, as the volcano is called, is located north of Efate, the main island of Vanuatu. Eruptions last occurred there in 2004. One year ago, a giant eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano triggered a tsunami and blanketed the South Pacific island kingdom of Tonga in volcanic dust. The underwater volcano, 65 kilometres north of Tonga’s ca…