Activity at Crater 2 was low to moderate in January and moderate in February. During this time, the explosions produced thick white-gray ash-and-vapor clouds; these usually blew SE over unpopulated areas. Eruption sounds varied between rumblings and detonations. On most February nights, observers saw variable glow over Crater 2 and, on 2, 8, and 23 February, ejection of incandescent lava fragments. During January and February, Crater 3 was inactive, but moderate seismicity prevailed. The daily total of explosion earthquakes during February ranged between 0 and 5.

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: Ima Itikarai and Ben Talai, RVO.