The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) raised the Volcanic Alert Level of Gaua volcano from Level 1 to Level 2 on January 31, 2018. The decision restricts visitors from approaching the volcanic cone. A long period of dormancy of this volcano ended in 1962 with an eruption on its SE flank. Since then, the volcano erupted 15 times, including its last eruption in 2011. Observations performed from December 2017 to January 2018 confirm that the activity at Gaua volcano consists of ongoing volcanic steam cloud which may content volcanic gases, VGMD said today.
These observations and seismic analysis confirm that the volcano activity has increased to the major unrest state. Alert Level for Gaua volcano was at Level 1 since December 21, 2010. Based on its slight increased seismic activity and observation of ongoing volcanic gas emission and steam plumes in December 2017 and January 2018, the Volcanic Alert Level (VAL) was raised to Level 2. The current observations are consistent with the Alert Level 2 activity which indicates ‘Major Unrest’ – the danger is around the crater rim and specific area, there is a considerable possibility of an eruption and also a chance of a flank eruption. READ MORE
