The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards department (VMGD) says the Ambae Volcano is in the major unrest state which means the volcano activity becomes stable.
VMGD stated that the current volcanic activity is consistent with Volcanic Alert Level 2, but possible imminent eruption could occur at any time in such major unrest state.
“Observations in September 2018 confirm that the eruptive activity occurred in July until August has dropped. There is no explosions and volcanic cloud emitted are white colour, means only steam. A small-scale eruption in Lake Voui has ceased”.
VMGD warns that the presence of ash that has fallen on Ambae during the eruptive phases will continue to change the behaviour of streams and creeks when it rains.
The flow path of streams and creeks could change due to the flood debris. Landslide may occur at some areas during heavy rain fall.
Significant impact of ashes and gases emission to villages at Ambae started in March and July, when the Volcanic Alert level was raised to Level 3. Observations of the current activity are consistent with the Alert Level 2 activity.
Ambae volcano is a very large volcano and is frequently active. A large-scale eruption about 400 years ago built a volcanic cone in the summit crater and the crater is now filled by Lake Voui; the modern active vent area underlies Lake Voui.
The current eruption episode started in 1991, with eruptions in 1995, 2005, 2016 and 2017. The current eruption is focused in the summit crater and there are no indications of activity elsewhere on Ambae Island for now.