Very hot gas and steam keep discharging from vents on Whakaari/White Island

Wednesday, 15 January 2020

On the afternoon of Monday December 9, 2019 Whakaari White Island erupted while tours were in progress, killing 22 people and injuring 25.

Very hot gas and steam continue to discharge from vents created by the December 9 eruption on Whakaari/White Island, the latest GeoNet update on the volcano says.

Three short episodes of volcanic tremor - ground vibration that can be almost continuous - between January 8 and 10 were accompanied by minor explosions from the active vents, duty volcanologist Brad Scott said on Wednesday.

Further large explosive eruptions were 'very unlikely' in the next four weeks, but an explosive eruption from the active vent area remained possible and could happen with no precursory activity.

Apart from minor ash emissions on December 23 and 26, no significantly sustained or strong eruptive activity had been observed since the December eruption.

* Whakaari/White Island: Another victim dies in hospital, death toll at 18

Whakaari/White Island erupted on December 9. In its latest update on the volcano, GeoNet says the vent area remains very hot, around 440C.

* Whakaari /White Island eruption: Round-the-clock medical care for victims**

Of the 47 people on the island at the time of the eruption, 18 died at the scene or since and another two are missing.

On Tuesday GeoNet resumed the camera feed from the volcano to its website. The feed broke in the eruption and was not restored to the web while the emergency response was carried out.

In the latest update, Scott said the vent area at the island remained very hot, around 440 degrees Celsius.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas emission rates were within normal post eruptive ranges, he said. That suggested there was no fresh movement of magma since making it to the surface shortly after the December eruption.

Collapse of unstable material around one of the vents could drive an explosive eruption. Scott said. Another possible driver could be a marked decrease in gas emissions allowing water from the reforming crater lake or geothermal systems to enter the active hot gas vents.

'Sudden steam/gas eruptions from the other active vents are also possible.'

The volcanic alert level remained at level 2, indicating moderate to heightened unrest with potential for eruption hazards including unpredictable and life-threatening steam-driven eruptions. It reflected the current level of volcanic activity and was not a forecast of future activity, the update said.

The aviation colour code remained yellow.