The current volcanic activity has impacted the entire surface area of Kadovar Island in East Sepik Province.
Thankfully, 591 locals have been evacuated to Blup Blup Island in the north without any reports of casualties.
The Rabaul Volcanological Observatory has reported that Kadovar continues to erupt with ash and steam still being emitted.
“Satellite based observations of the eruption indicate that there have been no significant SO2 (sulfur dioxide) emissions to date,” states RVO.
“Also no significant thermal anomalies have been detected (may be masked by fume). These observations would seem to indicate that at present new magma has not breached the surface or is contact with the atmosphere via cracks. The activity we are seeing is the disruption of old material, or a cracking of the carapace.
“There is still a chance that magma migration to the surface may stall. However, if rising magma breaches the surface, (volcanic) activity may increase.”
Kadovar is a volcanic island located about 24km offshore from the northern coast of mainland PNG, in East Sepik Province, and about 21km west of Bam volcano.
Believed to be dormant for decades, the volcano erupted on Friday, January 5.
“The island itself is only the top third of a 1,000m high volcanic cone rising from a 600-700m deep seabed,” explains the RVO.
“The actual base of the cone is buried under an unknown thickness of sediments introduced to the area by the Sepik River.”
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