A 1995 photo of Gaua volcano in Vanuatu.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that there were signs that Mt. Garet, part of the larger Gaua volcano in Vanuatu was potentially showing signs of a eruption – the first since 1982. It turns out that the rumbling and sulfur odors reported by local residents were correct and it appears that Gaua did indeed erupt. The latest report from the Geo-Hazard section of the Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources in Vanuatu:
After the assessment of the Geohazards team on Gaua
volcano from 3-7 October 2009, it is confirmed that Mont Garet volcano is
going through an eruptive phase starting from the 27th of September 2009.
Seismic records of the seismic station installed on Gaua show that many
explosions occurred on Gaua volcano. Volcanic gas flux measurements on
October 3rd show that 3000 tons of sulfuric dioxide is released from this
volcano each day, this means that a significant quantity of magma is
degassing from gaua volcano. The lake letas, localised close to the Mont
Garet volcano, is one of the biggest crater lake of South Pacific, its
volume reachs 800 million cubic meters which is drained out through the
river of the Waterfall.
With this information, the Alert level of this volcano is now raised to
Level 2 on the Vanuatu Volcano Alert Level (VVAL). This means that this
volcano is going through a minor eruption. It is not recommended to
approach the volcano. The danger remains in the red zone area on the hazard
map including all the river outlets in Gaua, especially the river of
waterfall. With the related alert level, a level of response from the
community is required. Geohazards is doing its best with the limited
resources available to continue monitoring this volcano.
No real indication in any of this about ideas of the extent of the eruption – sounds like it is just small explosive events so far – and a lot of sulfur dioxide. Another volcano to keep an eye on to see if the eruption escalates or that this is merely a transient event at Gaua.