Crater 2 released white and blue vapors during 1-18 October; from 6 to 9 October the emissions were accompanied by weak rumbling noises. On 19 October, mild Vulcanian activity resumed at Crater 2, but Crater 3 remained quiet throughout the month. Emissions from Crater 2 during 19-31 October consisted of thin white to thick gray vapor and ash clouds that rose a few hundred meters above the crater rim; low rumbling noises were observed during the ash emissions.

A 25 October explosion produced a thick dark gray ash cloud that rose ~2,000 m above the summit and resulted in light ashfall NW of the volcano. Weak steady night glow was visible on 24 and 29 October.

Seismic recording resumed on 25 October; due to problems with the equipment, recording had not occurred since May 1996. Seismic activity was low during 25-31 October.

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: B. Talai and H. Patia, RVO.