Residents of Neira moved to the west side of the island on May 9, 1988, at the onset of the eruption of Banda Api, and began evacuating. Residents of nearby Gunung Api Island, where the eruption occurred, had been evacuated the previous two days. As many as 10,000 persons were evacuated during the eruption; the only people to lose their lives were four persons who disregarded evacuation orders. Photo by Tom Casadevall, 1988 (U.S. Geological Survey).
RVO reported that during 3-14 January gray ash plumes from Rabaul caldera's Tavurvur cone rose to an altitude of 1.7 km (5,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW and SE. On 11 January two small vents opened on the SW flank and emitted strong fumaroles; during 11-13 January, the vents emitted ash.
MVO reported that during 2-3 January activity from Soufrière Hills lava dome increased drastically. On 3 January, two explosions produced ash plumes to altitudes greater than 10.7 km (35,000 ft) a.s.l. Ashfall affected most of the island at elevations of 1.2 km (4,000 ft) a.s.l. and above.
The Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program seeks better understanding of all volcanoes through documenting their eruptions — small as well as large — during the past 10,000 years.
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