Apr 3 2006, 4:00 pm - Raoul Island Volcano

Activity continues to decline in the Green Lake crater area. The most recently available photographs from the island show the water level continues to rise slowly in Green Lake, but it has not reached overflow level. Over the last few days the level of earthquake activity at or close to Raoul Island has continued to decline and there are now only 2 to 5 earthquakes per day being recorded. However there was a magnitude 6.5 earthquake on Saturday morning at 0120 am about 100 km east of Raoul Island (10 km deep), and this has been followed by nine earthquakes larger than magnitude 5 and numerous smaller events.

Now that volcanic activity is occurring at Raoul Island it has been decided that it is more appropriate to class the island as a frequently active volcano on the Volcano Alert Level table. This does not change the level of alert, which remains at level 2.

The Alert Level for Raoul Island remains at Alert Level 2.

Brad Scott
Volcano Surveillance Co-ordinator