The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo Hazards Department (VMGD) said the Ambrym volcano is in the major unrest state and the Volcanic Alert Level is lowered from 3 to Level 2.
The department said current volcanic activity is consistent with the Volcanic Alert Level 2.
This declined activity and the presence of active faults in the South-Eastern part of Ambrym have contributed to the change of current danger zones of Ambrym volcano.
Latest satellite imagery and observations in the field from 3 to 9 February 2019 confirm the presence of open cracks and active faults in Paamal village and its vicinity and the uplift at the coastal area of South-East Ambrym.
According to the department, these fractures are oriented in the WSW-ENE direction.
Observations of the cracked surfaces confirm that there is no steam, no lava flows, not even any smell of volcanic gases in the cracks.
A small seashore activity at the edge of one of the major faults ejected small light volcanic stones (pumice) that were washed ashore at Paamal village.
“Cracks and uplift in South-East Ambrym may be due to the presence of a possible dyke that may form from the drainage of the main craters of Benbow and Marum at the summit and migrating beneath to the eastern part of the island in December 2018. This activity has reshaped the form of the island and may influence the Potential future volcanic hazards impact areas,” the department said.
These observations also indicate that the volcano activity at the caldera remains with emissions of steam and other gases from the active craters with obvious collapse in areas around the active craters.
Lava lakes that used to appear in Benbow and Marum craters have disappeared since 16 December 2018.
People from Ambrym and neighbouring islands may no longer see the volcanic glow at night for the next few weeks/months. These observations confirm that the small –scale eruption in the caldera has now ceased.
The possibility that the Ambrym volcano activity escalate to the level of minor eruption (Level 3) and/or lowered to the lower unrest state (Level 1) is low for now.
The VMGD said it continues to closely monitor this volcano.
Photo supplied