Langila (Papua New Guinea): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Langila is a complex volcano located in Papua New Guinea at a latitude of -5.525 and a longitude of 148.42, reaching an elevation of 1,330 meters. Situated in a subduction zone setting with a continental crust thicker than 25 km, the volcano has a documented history of repeated activity stretching from the late 19th century CE into the 21st century CE. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the official record contains 26 confirmed eruptions.

Eruption History and Century Breakdown

The historical record of confirmed eruptions at Langila spans across three centuries CE. The earliest recorded eruption in the official dataset began on July 2, 1878 CE at Crater 2 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 2.0. Across the historical collection, confirmed eruptions are distributed unevenly:

• 19th century CE: 4 confirmed eruptions
• 20th century CE: 14 confirmed eruptions
• 21st century CE: 8 confirmed eruptions

All 26 recorded eruptions possess a determined VEI observation, with the largest recorded magnitude reaching a VEI of 3.0. An example of a magnitude 3.0 event is the eruption that spanned from February 24, 1973 CE to October 16, 2000 CE, involving Crater 3 and Crater 2.

Activity Areas and Representative Eruptions

Activity at Langila is observed across distinct active areas, notably Crater 2 and Crater 3. Reporting methods in the official record rely on reported observations. While the profile's last known eruption year in the database is listed as 2026 CE, individual structured records capture specific timelines. For instance, an eruption starting on October 22, 2015 CE at Crater 2 concluded on March 16, 2026 CE. None of the representative records in the transport collection are marked as continuing.