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Tavurvur volcano inside Rabaul Caldera spews volcanic ash and gas into the atmosphere a few weeks after a much larger eruption occurred on September 19. The large eruption began about 36 hours after an intense swarm of earthquakes began beneath the caldera. Like the recent restless activity at Long Valley caldera, an intense period of earthquake activity and uplift of the ground occurred at Rabaul in 1983-84 -- more than 94,000 earthquakes occurred and parts of the caldera were uplifted by about 0.6 m during a 14-month period. Just before this intense activity, scientists prepared a volcano-hazard map for the caldera and many people worked together to develop a volcano emergency-response plan for Rabaul. In the years following Rabaul's 1983-84 crisis period, the caldera became quiet but the emergency plan was revised and evacuations of hazardous areas were practiced regularly. The most recent practice took place in April 1994. These preparations ensured that people living and working within volcanic-hazard areas knew what to do in the hours after the intense earthquake swarm struck the caldera in 1994. The key elements of a volcano emergency-response plan have been summarized by scientists and emergency-response professionals; see The Development of Volcanic Emergency Plans for more information. |
