Scientists were on alert for heightened volcanic activity at Yasur following a M 7.2 earthquake on 3 January at 0430 near Vanuatu. The earthquake produced landslides in Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, and damaged buildings and bridges in the city, but there were no deaths or serious injuries. During 5 January to at least 16 January Yasur was active with ash falling on the population of Tanna Island, polluting water sources. The week of 6 January the Vanuatu government restricted access to the volcano's crater citing an increased risk of a large eruption since the 3 January earthquake. Authorities are prepared to evacuate residents from near the volcano if a large eruption occurs.

Geological Summary. Yasur has exhibited essentially continuous Strombolian and Vulcanian activity at least since Captain Cook observed ash eruptions in 1774. This style of activity may have continued for the past 800 years. Located at the SE tip of Tanna Island in Vanuatu, this pyroclastic cone has a nearly circular, 400-m-wide summit crater. The active cone is largely contained within the small Yenkahe caldera, and is the youngest of a group of Holocene volcanic centers constructed over the down-dropped NE flank of the Pleistocene Tukosmeru volcano. The Yenkahe horst is located within the Siwi ring fracture, a 4-km-wide open feature associated with eruption of the andesitic Siwi pyroclastic sequence. Active tectonism along the Yenkahe horst accompanying eruptions has raised Port Resolution harbor more than 20 m during the past century.

Source: ReliefWeb