Sumatra's volcanoes (Indonesia)

Latest news:

Thursday, Dec 06, 2007

Talang volcano (Sumatra, Indonesia), activity update: increasing unrest

Talang is becoming more active as judged from visual observations and seismicity . ash and steam plumes from multiple craters rose to altitudes of 3.1-4.1 km (10,200-13,500 ft) a.s.l. during 27-29 November. A strong smell of sulfur dioxide gas was also reported. Visitors and tourists were advised no...

[more]

Thursday, Mar 22, 2007

Talang volcano (Sumatra, Indonesia), activity update: increased ash emissions

Talang volcano on Sumatra is showing increased activity. Darwin VAAC reported that on 19 and 20 March ash plumes from Talang rose to 3.4-3.9 km (11,000-12,800 ft) a.s.l. CVGHM raised the Alert Level to 3 (on a scale of 1-4).

[more]

go to Archive ->

Sumatra volcano news page

Volcanoes of Sumatra (Indonesia)

Major active volcanoes of Sumatra. (Basemap created using UNAVCO map tool featuring Face of the Earth).

Volcanism in Sumatra

Sumatra's volcananism is caused by the northeastward subduction of the oceanic Indian-Australian plate at speeds of up to 70 mm/year under the continental Sunda plate (part of the Eurasian plate).
The region is tectonically among the most active on earth, as the great 9.0 (or perhaps even 9.3) magnitude earthquake on Dec. 26, 2004, has sadly illustrated.
The most active volcanoes of Sumatra are Marapi and Karinci, followed by Talang and Kawa volcanoes.

to top

Simplified tectonic map of the Indian Ocean and Sumatra, movements of tectonic plates, the Sunda Trench, location of the great 2004 earthquake, and volcanoes in Sumatra. (USGS)

to top