Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources Geo-Hazard Section Port Vila Telephone: 22907 Fax: 22213 Bulletin blong activiti blong volkeno Bulletin N°1, Activity blong Gaua Volkeno, Gaua Isl and, 30 September 2009 14°16’0”S 167°30’0”E Summit 2615ft (797m ) Ol ripot we I kam long Gaua long Torba Povince is soem se aktiviti blong Gaua volkeno, emi stap kam antap. Ol ai witness long Gaua oli bin ripotem tedei long 11am se I gat inkris long amount blong asis or sanbis blong volcano, we Gaua volkeno emi stap sakem mo wind emi stap karem asis or sanbis ia iko long west mo afektem at lis 5 komuniti long west blong Gaua. I gat wan bigfala saon blong wan explosen we ol vilija oli harem long 29 Septemba 2009 mo afta volkeno I sakem fulap asis mo stil stap sakem asis nao ia. Asis ia hemi spolem tu ol wota blo dring mo kala blong ol wota we oli stap long ol risev emi jenis tu. Ol vilija oli ripotem tu se oli smelem strong smel blong kas blong volkeno. Hemia hemi fes obsevesen afta long activity blong 1982. Ol Satelaet pikja blong Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) blong 29 Septemba 2009 hemi comfemem inkris ia blong kas blong Gaua volkeno (luk image ia). Satellite (OMI) Image Ol kaen aktiviti folem ol different Alet Level blong ol volcano blong Vanuatu. Gaua volcano VVAL 0 1 2 3 4 Nomol o lo-level aktiviti. Aktiviti Istap semak nomo o hemi olsem oltaem. Aktiviti blong volkeno ikam antap smolsmol. Tingbaot denja kolosap long maot blong volkeno. Volkeno istap faerap be ino bikwan tumas be ikat denja finis klosap long maot blong volkeno, insaed long Red Kala Eria (especially eria insaed long black circle) Volkeno ifaerap bikwan naoia. Ikat ol strong nois blong volkeno (explosen). Denja istap long bikfala eria araon long volkeno mo long insaed long ol men hol blong wota mo krik. Espeseli folem direksen we win istap blo long hem. Denja hemi stap long insaed long Red mo Yelo Kala Eria. Volkeno ifaerap bikwan olketa. Ikat bikfala denja long aelan, ol pipol mo haos mo ikat bikfala efek long ol aelan kolosap. Denja hemi stap insaed long Red mo Yelo mo Grin Kala Eria. http://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/OMI/OMISO2 vanuatu.html Wetem hemia Volcano Alert level blong Gaua volkeno I go antap long Level 1 long Vanuatu Volcano Alert Level (VVAL). Hemia hemi min se igat bigfala denja emi stap kolosap long crater mo hemi no sef blong approjem volkeno ia. Blong kasem moa infomesen yu save kontactem Geo-Hazard Unit blong Department blong Geology, Mines mo Water Resources, telephone 22907/22423 email [email protected], mo [email protected] , or luk long internet long www.geohazards.gov.vu . Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources Geo-Hazard Section Port Vila Telephone: 22907 fax: 22213 Volcano Activity Bulletin Bulletin N°1, Gaua Volcano activity Gaua Island, 30 September 2009 14°16’0”S 167°30’0”E Summit 2615ft (797m) Reports of unusual volcanic activity, from Gaua in Torba Province have indicated that there has been an increase in the activity of Gaua volcano. Eye witnesses on Gaua have reported today at 11am, an increase in the amount of volcanic ash released by the volcano. The ashfalls were carried by wind westwards affecting at least 5 communities on the west coast of Gaua. An explosion was heard by villagers in the west on the 29th September 2009. This was followed by ash falls which are currently ongoing according to the report. Drinking waters were contaminated by ash and there was discoloration of water reserves. There is also strong smell of volcanic gas reported by the villagers. This is the first observation they ever have of this kind after the 1982. Satellite images from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) taken on the 29th September 2009 confirm the increase of volcanic gas release from Gaua (see image below). Satellite (OMI) Image Vanuatu Volcano Alert Level Description Gaua volcano VVAL 0 Normal low-level activity 1 Increased activity, danger near crater only 2 Moderate eruptions, danger close to the volcano vent, within parts of Red Zone (especially areas within the black circle). 3 Large eruption, danger in specific areas within Red and Yellow Zones 4 Very large eruption, island-wide danger (including areas within Red, Yellow and Green Zones) and potential impacts on neighboring islands http://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/OMI/OMISO2/vanuatu.html As a result, the Volcano Alert level of Gaua volcano is increased to Level 1 according to the Vanuatu Volcano Alert Level (VVAL). This means that there is danger particularly near the crater. Therefore approaching the volcano is risky. For specific information, please contact the Geo-Hazards Unit of the Department of Geology, Mines [email protected], and and Water Resources, telephone 22907/22423 email [email protected] or web: www.geohazards.gov.vu . Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources Geo-Hazard Section Port Vila Telephone: 22907 Fax: 22213 Bulletin d’activité volcanique Bulletin N°1, Activité volcanique de Gaua, le 30 Se ptembre 2009 14°16’0”S 167°30’0”E Summit 2615ft (797m) Un rapport sur l'activité volcanique inhabituelle de Gaua, dans la province de Torba ont indique une augmentation de l'activité volcanique du Mont Garet. Des témoignages du bureau de la province de Sola ont reporte une augmentation dans la quantité de cendres rejetée par le Volcan de Gaua. Les retombées de cendres ont été transportées par le vent d'Ouest affectant les villages côtiers à l'Ouest de Gaua. Ceux-ci ont contamine le l’eau potable. La décoloration des réserves d’eau a été également observe et de fortes odeurs de gaz volcaniques ont été senties par les villageois de la partie ouest de l’ile. Ces observations sont les premières de ce type depuis 1982. Les images satellitaires provenant du Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) ont confirme une augmentation d’émission de gaz volcanique du volcan (voir image ci-dessous). Image Satellitaire (OMI) Description du Niveau d'Alerte Volcanique VVAL Volcans de Gaua 0 Normal low-level activity 1 Increased activity, danger near crater only 2 Moderate eruptions, danger close to the volcano vent, within parts of Red Zone (especially areas within the black circle). 3 Large eruption, danger in specific areas within Red and Yellow Zones 4 Very large eruption, island-wide danger (including areas within Red, Yellow and Green Zones) and potential impacts on neighboring islands http://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/OMI/OMISO2 /vanuatu.html En conséquence, le niveau d'alerte volcanique du volcan de Gaua est actuellement au niveau 1, selon le Niveau d'Alerte Volcanique du Vanuatu (VVAL). Il y a un danger direct près du cratère et du lac au sommet. L'approche du volcan est vivement déconseillée. Pour plus d’information spécifique, contacter la section Risques Géologiques du Département de la Géologie, Mines et Ressources en Eaux, téléphone 22907, email [email protected], et [email protected] ou consulter le site internet www.geohazards.gov.vu