Tavurvur rocks sleepy Rabaul

By ELIZABETH VUVU
PEOPLE in Rabaul and surrounding villages were jolted from their sleep by shockwaves from four explosions by Mt Tavurvur early yesterday morning.
Reports from Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) indicated the explosions occurred between 1am and 4 am.
The emission consisting of white grey ash was rising to about 200m before being blown to the east and southeast. Fine ash fall occurred at Kokopo, Vunapope areas and surrounding villages.
RVO said light showers yesterday morning had seen ash fall combine with raindrops causing low concentration of sulphuric acid or acidic rain at Vunapope and Kokopo.
However, Air Niugini has not reported ash fall at Tokua.
Occasional weak roaring noises were heard accompanying some of the emissions and a continuous weak fluctuating glow was accompanied by weak projections of glowing lava fragments at irregular intervals was visible last night.
Also on Wednesday afternoon, it was reported that there was a slight increase in the frequency of ash emission.
Seismic activity continued at a low level. Low frequency earthquakes continued to be recorded and were associated with ash emissions from the volcano. No high frequency earthquakes were recorded.
The GPS at Matupit Island was off yesterday and RVO technicians are now attending to the problem.
Meanwhile, RVO confirmed that the chances of a big eruption occurring such as the one last Oct 7 was very low.

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