"For most of April, activity was at a low level with weak to moderate white and occasionally grey emissions from Crater 2, and weak white and rarely blue emissions from Crater 3.

"However, between 7 and 17 April stronger activity took place at Crater 2. Occasional strong Vulcanian explosions producing eruption columns up to about 5 km high were accompanied by detonations and rumblings, and ashfalls were recorded in coastal areas 10 km to the N and NW. Characteristic impulsive earthquakes also accompanied these explosions."

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.