RVO reported that during 1-14 April Strombolian activity was observed from Manam Southern Crater. During 1-7 April ash plumes rose above the crater. Island residents reported incandescent tepha ejections from the crater at night, and roaring and rumbling noises. Activity increased on 8 April. Strombolian activity was sustained for extended periods during 9-11 and 13-14 April. Loud roaring and rumbling noises were reported by residents in Bogia, 25-30 km SSW of Manam on the N coast of the mainland. A few loud banging noises on 13 April rattled bush-material houses at Dugulava village on the SW side of the island. Most fragments from the Strombolian eruptions, including a small volume of lava, were channeled into SW valley. Ash plumes rose as high as 600 m above the summit crater and drifted NW. White vapor plumes rose from Main Crater during the reporting period.

Geological Summary. The 10-km-wide island of Manam, lying 13 km off the northern coast of mainland Papua New Guinea, is one of the country's most active volcanoes. Four large radial valleys extend from the unvegetated summit of the conical basaltic-andesitic stratovolcano to its lower flanks. These valleys channel lava flows and pyroclastic avalanches that have sometimes reached the coast. Five small satellitic centers are located near the island's shoreline on the northern, southern, and western sides. Two summit craters are present; both are active, although most observed eruptions have originated from the southern crater, concentrating eruptive products during much of the past century into the SE valley. Frequent eruptions, typically of mild-to-moderate scale, have been recorded since 1616. Occasional larger eruptions have produced pyroclastic flows and lava flows that reached flat-lying coastal areas and entered the sea, sometimes impacting populated areas.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)