The Canadian navy ship H-M-C-S Toronto is conducting a search-and-rescue operation to find the 9 people lost after a catastrophic eruption of jebel al Tair volcano on September 30. It is told that the eruption hit the 3 km long island about 7 pm local time. There are about five NATO ships in the area. Lava is spewing hundreds of meters in the air and a few kilometers high ash column is to be seen.