The Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazard Management has confirmed that there is no volcanic activity on Biem Island, East Sepik Province.
The Department established radio contact with the Chief of Bam (Biem) Island, who is on site, yesterday evening.
“It can now be categorically stated that there has been no volcanic activity of any kind on that island,” says the Dept.
“Kadovar however, continues to produce a steam plume to a few hundred meters.”
This confirmation supports the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory’s statement on Sunday regarding the lack of volcanic activity on Biem.
Though inhabitants reported tremors on the island, the RVO said these could be from the Kadovar eruption.
Furthermore, it clarified that pictures from Biem purportedly showing a ‘sulphur plume’ in the water at the coast “are probably showing long standing thermal feature”.