Mt. Tavurvur in Rabaul
Rabaul was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption by Tavurvur and Vulcan. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of feet into the air. It caused rain which caused buildings to collapse. 80% of the buildings in Rabaul were collapsed. However, due to planning for such a catastrophe, the townsfolk were prepared and only five people were killed. One of the deaths was caused by lightning.
After the eruption the capital was moved to Kokopo, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) away. Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity due to being built on the edge of Rabaul caldera, a flooded caldera of a large volcano.
In 1937 it erupted killing more than 500 people. This event led to the founding of the Rabaul Volcano Observatory (from which this image was taken) which watches over the many active volcanoes on Papua New Guinea.
Residents continue to live in Rabaul but it has declined considerably since 1994.
