The strombolian activity from NE crater is no longer visible, as the magma column has dropped again inside the conduit. (-->So, the worrying question is, where is all that magma going ... into some new flank intrusion?)

A set of photos from our recent expediton to Nyiragongo volcano has been posted. The next tour to see this unique volcano and the endangered mountain gorilllas of the Virunga volcanic chain is now set to 21-28 Jan. 2007. Details on this page.

Popocatepetl had a strong explosion on 25 July at 09h50 local time, producing an ash and gas plume of  5 km height above the crater. The eruption lasted 1 and a half minute and was accompanied by high-frequency tremor. It is believed that the explosion was caused by interaction of water from the recent heavy rains with the hot lava dome inside the crater.

Piton de la Fournaise's eruption continues and from today on, visitors are allowed to enter the Enclos until the Bory crater, ca. 1.2 km from the eruption site, from where there is a good observation point.
On 22 July, the intensity of the eruption had decreased and since then, the lava flow has only been weakly alimented. A new cone is being formed at the eruption site located between the cones Rivals and Château Fort on the flank of the main crater.

According to the Buenos Aires VAAC, a pilot reported that ash plumes from Ubinas during 22-24 July reached altitudes of 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. Ash plumes were visible on satellite imagery.

During 19-25 July, lava flow / rock-fall activity at Merapi continued with incanescent rockfalls reaching maximum distances of 1.5 km SE toward the Gendol River. Pyroclastic flows were not observed during the reporting period. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4).

Based on interpretations of seismic data, an explosion at Canlaon that lasted more than 10 minutes occurred on 23 July. An ash column was not observed due to cloud cover. Trace deposits of ash fell up to 9 km ENE of the crater in the neighborhoods of Pula, Malaiba, and Lumapao. On 24 July, PHIVOLCS reported a total of 16 volcanic earthquakes, 3 short-duration tremors, and 2 earthquakes indicating small explosions. Ash was not observed.

During 19-25 July, smaller to medium-sized explosions continued at Tungurahua volcano. Small pyroclastic flows descended NW a maximum distance of 1 km on 21 and 23 July. Steam-and-ash plumes were observed during 19-22 and 24 July and reached maximum heights of 5 km above the summit (32,900 ft a.s.l.) on 21 July. According to the Washington VAAC, pilots reported on 19, 22, and 23 July that ash plumes reached altitudes of 10.7 km (35,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted predominantly W. A hot spot was visible on satellite imagery from 19 to 22 July.

Lava flows from Mayon traveled SSE a maximum distance of 4 km from the summit toward the Bonga gully and branched off to the W and E. Incandescent blocks shed from the toe and margins of the flows were visible at night and traveled SE. Ash plumes generated from the rolling blocks produced light ash fall 8.5 km E of the summit in Sta. Misericordia. On 20 July, pyroclastic flows were observed on the SE slopes prompting ~100 families to evacuate. On 22 July, lava flows advanced NE towards the Mabinit channel. The lava flows were within the 6 km radius Permanent Danger Zone.

The Alert Status of Karangetang was raised on 22 July from 3 to 4 (on a scale of 1-4) due to an increase in eruptive activity since the last reportingperiod. On 20 July, lava flows were observed moving E toward the Kahetang and Batu Awang rivers at a maximum distance of 1.8 km from the vent, towards the Hamstring river at unknown location and distance, and S towards the Bahembang river at a maximum distance of 2 km. On 21 July, a pyroclastic flow originating
from the upper S flank traveled 2.5 km toward the Stone river (unknown direction) and was followed by lava flows that traveled toward the Hamstring river and E towards the Kahetang river at a maximum distance of 2 km. A "thin white smoke" was seen at a height of ~350 m above the summit (7,000 ft a.s.l.). Lava flows traveled a maximum distance of ~2.3 km towards the Hamstring river and S towards the Bahembang river during 22-23 and 25 July.

Dome growth appears to have continued, and visual observations on Thursday 27 July revealed that the blocky spine - first observed on 21 July - remains intact, although leaning to the east, It is also is also now one of a number of spines along the crest of the dome (crest orientation approximately south to north).

The effusive eruption from the fissure at the base of the SE crater ended on 24 July. Shortly after, mild explosive strombolian activity started at the NE crater as observed since 26 July.
The recent lava flow field emplaced on the west wall of the Valle del Bove had reached the base of Monte Centenari at 1800 m a.s.l.

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Dome growth (and rockfall activity) appears to have been focused to the NE and visual observations on the morning of Friday 21 July showed that the dome has grown markedly during the reporting period. It now has an asymmetric profile, with a blocky spine on the northeast end. The height of the spine was estimated at 895 m on Tuesday 18 July.

The explosive, mild strombolian activity at the 3100m vent is continuing and about to form a new scoria cone. The lava flows from the two other vents at 3050 and 3000m elevation form a branching lava flow whose lowest front is now at 2100m elevation in the upper part of the Valle del Bove. The estimated eruption rate is 2,6 m3/sec and the total volume erupted so far is estimated about 800,000 m3.

Pyroclastic flows run downhill along the Achupasal ravine on the side of the Tungurahua volcano 16 July, 2006 in southern Ecuador. Tungurahua erupted for a fourth day, burying thousands of farms in ash and threatening to "boil over" and dump lava on a nearby town, officials said. (AFP/Rodrigo Buendia)

Tungurahua remains highly active, with large strombolian-vulcanian explosions and pyroclastic flows. Ash clouds reach 6-10 km altitude.

Lava flow from Etna volcano

Map of the new lava flow as of 16 July 2006 (INGV Catania)

Etna's eruption continues at a mild rate. INGV has estimated the output rate of lava to be around 2.4 cubic meters per second. There are 3 eruptive vents close to each other at the SE base of the SE cone, one at 3100m (only mild strombolian explosive activity, in diminuition as of today) and two effusive vents at 3050 and 3000m elevation. The two lava flows from the lower vents merge about 100m from their source and the lava flow is entering the upper areas of Valle del Bove, reaching 2400m elevation as of today. More on Etna

The number and size of incansecent rock falls from the active lava dome as well as SO2 emission at Mayon volcano are increasing according to the observatory, that maintains that pyroclastic flows or an explosive eruption can occur any time now. The volcano is at alert level 3 with a non-enforced exclusion zone of 6 km around the summit.

Reuters press photo of Tunagurahua volcano in eruption on 15 July 2006

AFP press photo of Tunagurahua volcano in eruption on 15 July 2006

On July 14, Tunguragua volcano's activity increased dramatically and culminated in a powerful vulcanian-type explosion starting at 17h30 local time. It produced an visible eruption column of 6-15 km height, with an ash plume reaching 25 km altitude, ash and pumic falls in the surrounding areas as well as several pyroclastic flows. The activity is the most intense since the volcano started its present eruptive phase in 1999.
Tungurahua's increase in activity started on July 14, at 17h10 local time, when a number of loud detonations were heard up to several kilometers distance. A calm period of 20 minutes followed until the volcano suddenly entered its violent explosive phase at 17h30 that lasted until 00h30. This phase of the eruption eruption was characterized by intense strombolian activity ejecting large incandescent blocks to about 500 m above the crater, the generation of at least 4 or 5 pyroclastic flows that descended the Achupashal, Cusúa, la Hacienda and Juive Grande valleys on the W and NW slopes causing small bush fires, continuous ash explosions with a sustained eruption column of 6-15 km height. A part of the ash plume reached 25 km altitude as satellite observations indicate. Two ash clouds travelling at 7 and 25 km altitudes were moving E and SE and by the time of this report had already exited Ecuadorian territory.
Ash and pumice falls, with fragments of up to 1 cm in diameter, fell in areas W of the volcano, with maximum measured thickness of 15mm. Strong seismic activity was felt in areas up to 14 km north of the volcano.
The deposits of one of the pyroclastic flows were described as 8m thick and 20m wide and composed of dense rock fragments, thus suggesting their origin as from "boiling-over" of fresh lava from the crater rather than column collapse.
After 00h30 local time, the intensity of the eruption ceased and changed to intermittent, but still very powerful explosions, occurring at more or less regular intervals of 30-40 minutes.

Etna erupts again.
As David Corsaro (hotel owner on Etna, www.hotelcorsaro.it) reports to us, the eruption started during the previous night (between 14-15 July, 2006) from two fissure vents at the SE flank of the SE crater cone at 2900 m elevaion. Two moderate lava flows are emerging from the vents, both entering the Valle del Bove. The longest of the two flows has reached 2500 m elevation.
The eruption appears to be a similar event as the last one that had started in Sept. 2004 and lasted until March 2005. There is no danger for inhabited areas.

As PHILVOLCS reports, brief periods of ash and steam emissions continue at Kanlaon Volcano.  This is a manifestation of the ongoing low-level unrest.  Alert Level 1 remains enforced.   For the latest significant event and bulletin issued, see the Chronology of Events file published by PHILVOLCS.

Mayon, the Philippines's most active and a notoriously destructive volcano, started erupting last Thursday (13 July, 2006). After a swarm of earthquakes, small ash emissions were observed and on Friday, small lava flows (i.e. glowing rock falls from the lava dome) started to be visible.

After the 3 powerful eruptive events on 12 July, seismic activity has decreased at Galeras volcano. The alert level was lowered to 2.

The first eruption of Piton de la Fournaise in 2006 might be imminent. Since mid-April, seismicity and inflation at Piton de la Fournaise volcano have been gradually increasing despite a slight decrease and stagnation of the trend in late May-mid June. Now, the observatory is registering 80-100 seismic events per day and an eruption is expected within days or few weeks.

The first eruption of Piton de la Fournaise in 2006 might be imminent. Since mid-April, seismicity and inflation at Piton de la Fournaise volcano have been gradually increasing despite a slight decrease and stagnation of the trend in late May-mid June. Now, the observatory is registering 80-100 seismic events per day and an eruption is expected within days or few weeks.

Galeras volcano had a strong explosive eruption on 12 July at 10h58 local time, producing an ash plume reaching 12 km altitude. The event was followed by two further explosions at 14h36 and 21h02 local time. 
Ash falls were reported in the localities of  La Florida, Ancuyá, Sandoná and Consacáes. Authorities started to evacuate about 10,000 people from the areas nearest to the volcano.
The eruption was preceded by a relatively calm period of lava dome growth interupted only by a weak explosion on 9 July accompanied by a minor swarm of earthquakes.
The events mark Galeras' typical trend of erupting and have been expected by scientists of the monitoring institute INGEOMINAS. A pdf report about the eruption can be downloaded from their website.

Tungurahua volcano continues to be in strombolian eruption. The Istituto de Geofisica of Quito reports several hundreds of explosions per day producing ash plumes 500-1,500 m of height. At night, incandescent ejecta are seen above the crater and loud detonations rattle windows of houses in nearby villages.

Merapi's activity has been gradually decreasing over the past two weeks. Pyroclastic flows into the Krasak and Gendol ravines have been becoming less frequent and rarely exceed 1 km in length. The lava dome is still glowing at night and produces incandescent rock-falls. Ash falls over the the past months have destroyed more than 3000 hectares of cultivated land (rice-fields, sweet-potato plantations and other crops), mostly in the Magelang, Boyolali and Klaten districts.

Smoke ring emitted from the NE cone on 28 June 2006

The crater terrace on 4 July with the collapsed NE cone crater erupting violently.

Exceptionally strong activity continues at Strombli volcano:

Recent eruptions at Stromboli (c)Tom Pfeiffer

Tom Pfeiffer reports very strong activities at Strombolis craters. The eruptions are powerful and rise up to 400 m. Further information after Tom´s return to the Athens office in the next days...

During 21-27 June, small-to-moderate explosions at Tungurahua produced plumes composed of gas, steam, and small amounts of ash that reached heights of 1 km above the crater (19,800 ft a.s.l.). Light ashfall was reported in nearby localities on 21, 24-25 June. Night-time incandescence was observed from 24 to 26 June.

During 21-27 June, the lava dome at Mount St. Helens continued to grow and produce small rockfalls. A small steam plume from the lava dome and dust from minor rockfalls were visible from the US Forest Service's web camera at the Johnston Ridge Observatory on 25 and 26 June. On 26 June, a pilot reported that dust and ash reached a height of ~2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W.  The volcano remained at Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code Orange.

During 16-23 June, only brief observations of the Soufrière Hills lava dome were possible due to inclement weather. The lava dome filled the base of the crater,which suggested a high rate of growth. On 17 June, lahars reached the Belham and other valleys on the lower flanks. Wet ash accumulated NW in the Salem and Olveston areas.

Based on a pilot report, the Darwin VAAC reported that an ash plume from Semeru reached 5.5 km (18,000 ft) a.s.l. on 25 June.

Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat remains very active. As MVO reports, the dome continues to grow at a high rate, with pyroclastic flow activity on the eastern section of the dome. A distinct lobe on the north-west side of the dome is believed to have grown during the last week.

Explosions at Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex on 15-16, 18, 21, and 26 June produced gas-and-steam plumes with moderate to no ash content that reached heights of 1 km above the summit (15,700 ft a.s.l.). Lahars were observed on 18 and 19 June.

During 21-25 June, seismic signals at Merapi indicated almost daily occurrence of rockfalls and pyroclastic flows. Due to inclement weather, pyroclastic flows were only observed on 24 June and reached a maximum distance of 4 km SE along the Gendol River and 2.5 km SW along the Krasak River. Gas plumes were observed during 22-25 June and reached a maximum height of 1.5 km above the summit (14,600 ft a.s.l.) on 24 June. 

During 21-27 June, lava from Kilauea continued to flow off of a lava delta into the ocean at the East Lae`apuki entry. On 24 June, lava that flowed over a 67 m wide sea cliff was fed from a breakout point about 50 m inland from the cliff on the W surface of the delta. The area of East Lae`apuki lava delta was estimated to be 20.5 hectares. On 24 June, the floor of Drain hole vent in Pu`u `O`o's crater collapsed and produced a 30 m by 25 m lava pond with dynamically active lava on the SE side of the pit.  Lava from the Camp out flow and tube, located on the E margin of the PKK shield, advanced 1.2 km towards the Pulama pali approximately during 19-24 June.

Activity at Karymsky continued during 21-27 June, with 200-700 shallow earthquakes occurring daily. Based on pilot reports, on 19 June ash plumes rose up to 4 km (13,100 ft) a.s.l. and traveled NE. A thermal anomaly in the crater was observed during 17,19, and 22 June. Karymsky remained at Concern Color CodeOrange

Minor steam-and-ash emissions that were observed from Canlaon during 21-24 June reached a maximum height of 1.5 km above the summit (12,900 ft a.s.l.) and drifted NW and SW. Light ash fall was observed approximately 25 km SW in the municipality of La Castellana. The alert status remained at Level 1, which restricts activity within 4 km of the summit.