Karkar to be closely monitored by RVO

By SHEILA LASIBORI
THE Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) will be closely monitoring the Karkar volcano in Madang province after spewing magma in recent weeks.
A seismometer, a device used for measuring earthquakes, has been placed on Karkar through which the observatory has been monitoring the minor earthquakes that were being experienced at Karkar.
Chief geodesic surveyor Steve Saunders yesterday told The National that Karkar had been spewing magma but it was not known how deep under the ground the source of the magma was.
“We have not identified where it is coming from but there are some earthquakes being experienced there,” he said, adding that a team of volcano experts from the RVO will travel to Karkar next week.
RVO in the past months had closely observed Karkar after the vegetation around it died and steam reportedly seen coming out from it.
Meanwhile, villagers and areas located near Mt Lamington in Oro province can be rest assured that there are no dangers from the volcano.
Mr Saunders said the flooding experienced last November was the cause of creeks around Mt Lamington drying off.