"Occasional Vulcanian explosions from Crater 2 were reported. One explosion on 11 January was accompanied by a loud detonation, and an associated earthquake was felt 10 km away. Crater 2 glow was seen on 14 and 16 January.

"From 1-17 January, Crater 3 produced white and blue emissions. From the 18th pale grey Strombolian eruption clouds were seen. Rumbling and explosion sounds were associated with these eruptions. Crater 3 glow or ejections of incandescent tephra were seen beginning then. An active lava flow from Crater 3 was first observed 21 January.

"Seismicity recorded 11-23 January contained large-amplitude Vulcanian explosion shocks originating from Crater 2, and other smaller scale activity which probably originated at Crater 3. The apparent Crater 3 seismicity consisted of numerous, brief, small-amplitude events 14-17 January, and larger amplitude tremor envelopes 18-23 January which probably were an expression of the visible Strombolian eruptive activity that commenced 18 January."

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, RVO.