"The eruptive activity . . . declined in the first half of December. There were a few Vulcanian explosions from Crater 2 in the first half of the month, and virtually no activity during the second half of the month. Crater 3 continued to release only fumarolic emissions, with occasional wisps of blue vapour. Seismicity remained low throughout the month.

"Activity at Crater 2 in the first two weeks consisted mainly of weak-moderate emissions of white-grey vapour. Roaring and rumbling sounds were heard on 2 and 3 December; fluctuating glow was observed at night. A deep explosion heard on 7 December generated an ash column several hundreds of metres above the crater rim; there was fine ashfall to the SE. During 10-13 December there were occasional rumbling, roaring, and explosion noises, and steady weak glow was seen on 10 and 13 December. From 14 December until the end of the month, no sounds were heard and weak to moderate emissions again consisted of white-grey vapour. Steady weak night glow was seen on 23, 28, 29, and 31 December."

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: D. Lolok, R. Stewart, and B. Talai, RVO.