Volcano Journal Entry

Bagana Volcano Spews Lava (April 28, 2004)

Bagana volcano on Bouganville Island in Papua New Guinea erupted with rivers of lava this week. The lava was flowing towards the village of Torokina about five miles (eight kilometers) away. It also threatened a group of smaller villages even closer to the volcano's summit. These villages were set up by people forced to flee their homes during civil war on the island that ended in 2001.

Bagana is one of the youngest and most active volcanoes of the Pacific Rim. Its first known eruption was in 1842. Since then, it has erupted at least 22 times. One of its eruptions killed several people in 1883. Its most recent active phase began in 1972.

The volcano is one of seven on Bouganville. All of these are part of the Ring of Fire, the large arc of active volcanoes along subduction zones surrounding the Pacific Ocean.