"Crater 2 remained moderately active in May. White to grey emissions were reported daily with light ashfalls at the Cape Gloucester airstrip . . . on 11 days. Weak rumbling noises were reported on most days with occasional explosion sounds.

"Incandescence at the summit was reported 5-8 and 11 May. The brightest glow was on the night of 7 May. During this period of increased activity, explosion sounds were heard more frequently and 10-15 explosion shocks/day were recorded on the seismograph.

"During the last 5 days of May, activity decreased; emissions were weaker and no audible noises were produced by the volcano. There was no low-frequency tremor recorded during the month."

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: P. Lowenstein, RVO.