"A fairly low level of activity prevailed in early March, but in the second half of the month activity at both craters intensified. Crater 3 erupted incandescent tephra 18-22 March, accompanied by frequent explosive detonations and loud rumbling. From 22 March until the end of the month glow and incandescent tephra ejections from Crater 2 were seen on most nights. Dark eruption clouds were occasionally seen, and loud explosions and rumblings were heard. Seismicity was stronger from 18 March, and correlated with the intensified visible activity."

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.