"Activity declined to a low level in June and remained low through July. Crater 2 intermittently released white-grey ash and vapour clouds in small to moderate amounts. The crater was silent throughout the month, as it has been since the end of May (BGVN 18:05). No glow was observed. The number of Vulcanian explosion earthquakes showed a marked decline to 19 in June from 70 in May and 134 in April. Crater 3 continued to occasionally release weak emissions of white vapour. No activity was recorded from Crater 3 in July.

"Langila's activity increased slightly in August. Crater 2 released white-grey vapour and ash for most of the month. Explosions producing ash falls in inhabited areas were recorded on 6, 8, 20, and 25-26 July. Crater 3 emissions consisted of weak blue vapour.

"Activity appeared to decline in September. Crater 2 emitted weak to moderate amounts of vapour and ash. On a few occasions, falls of ash took place in inhabited areas about 10 km downwind from the vent. Activity at Crater 3 continued at a low level with weak emissions of white and blue vapours. Seismicity was low throughout the month."

Geological Summary. Langila, one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain, consists of a group of four small overlapping composite basaltic-andesitic cones on the lower E flank of the extinct Talawe volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe. An extensive lava field reaches the coast on the N and NE sides of Langila. Frequent mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows, have been recorded since the 19th century from three active craters at the summit. The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m.

Information Contacts: C. McKee, N. Lauer, L. Sipison, B. Talai, R. Stewart, and D. Lolok, RVO.