Whakaari / White Island alert level reduced to one

The volcanic alert level on Whakaari / White Island has dropped to level 1, one year after its fatal eruption, and ash is no longer emitted from the island.

An observation flight on December 2 confirmed that ash emissions stopped and satellite observations for the past week did not detect ash in the vapor plume.

Hot gas and steam emissions continue from active vents.

In a statement, GNS Science said that monitoring data indicates that Whakaari / White Island has been gradually progressing towards lower levels of volcanic disturbances, which is typical of the long-term behavior of this volcano.

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In November 2020, GNS raised the alert on the island to level two, as ash was detected in the plumes of steam and gas rising from the volcano.

Currently, volcanic gases have also returned to lower levels.

“A gas measurement flight on December 2 showed that major volcanic gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) have returned to lower levels, as seen in September 2020,” he said GNS Science in a statement.

The level of volcanic seismic tremor and the number of local earthquakes remain low.

Volcanic Alert Level 1 indicates primary hazards such as hot volcanic gas and steam discharge, earthquakes, landslides, and hydrothermal activity.

“While volcanic alert level 1 is primarily associated with environmental hazards, eruptions can still occur with little or no warning.”

Whakaari / White Island erupted on December 9 last year, when 47 people were on the island.

Twenty-one people died from the eruption and two of the bodies have never been recovered.

The island was at alert level two when the eruption occurred.