Umboi Island —Another

NG “Hot Spot”

}N October 10, Umboi Island off the western tip of New Britain, xperienced a severe earthquake and ince then the problem has been whether this was a normal New Juinea tectonic tremor or a pre ininary to something more serious.

A survey has been made by the tovernment vulcanologist, Mr. Tony 'aylor, who found that one volcanic entre in the island has been showing fciusnal conditions for several lonths. From this and other evi pnce he considers that major seismic ttivity could occur there during Ibruary or March, 1953, but em basises that seismic activity would ot necessarily mean volcanic erup pns.

IThe Administration with Mt. Lam- Igton still fresh in memory, is tak »g no chances and an emergency lan has been worked out: the ptheran Mission staff on the island ill. in the event of dangerous vol ume activity, form an Emergency puncil with leading natives from le villages in the possible danger bne, to supervise any hasty evacua bn which might become necessary. [The inhabitants of a semi-circle of llages perched on what is probably

the rim of an extinct volcano have been advised to build subsidiary homes and gardens on the coastal areas where they can take refuge in the event of trouble—they already have shelters and small gardens on the coast which have always been part of their food-raising programme.

It is not feasible in P-NG to move all native populations living in areas which may or may not become vol canically dangerous. The only alter native is to prepare emergency plans and maintain a close vulcanological scrutiny of the potential trouble spot.

And that is exactly what is being done in regard to Umboi.