As the Geophysical Institute of Quito reports, strombolian activity at Tungurahua volcano and its seismicity have been increasing over the past days. On 28 June, 86 explosions were counted by the seismic network. In nearby villages, strong pressure waves could be felt from some of the explosions. A weak steam and ash plume is present over the summit and during the night, incandescent blocks are seen to be thrown out of the crater to heights of approximately 100 meters.

Karymski volcano remains the most active volcano on Kamchatka with frequent strong strombolian to vulcanian-type explosions producing ash plumes up to 3-4 km altitude.

Stromboli volcano's crater terrace with 7 of the 9 active vents visible: from left to right, a tall eruption from the NW crater, 2 visible glowing vents in the central crater, the spattering NE cone of the central crater with its smaller flank vent, and two vents (one erupting weakly) of the NE crater. (Photo taken early on 25 June)

During the past weeks and months, Stromboli has continued to show extraordinarily high activity as several groups of VolcanoDiscovery have observed.
During a visit on 24 June, 9 active vents were counted: two active vents in the NW crater (towards Ginostra), one of which exploded with tremendous noise every 20-30 minutes, throwing powerful jets of burning gas followed by large amounts of spatter to heights of up to 3-400 m, showering the OUTER rims of the crater terrace. A neighboring vent, a few meters away from it, is normally not visible, but when it erupted, it had the appearance of the ground opening and emitting glowing ash that slowy rose, blackened and created small ash plumes.
In the central crater, 4 visible glowing vents and one hidden behind the wall were active, the most prominent being the tall cone in the NE corner of the complex. The NE cone was spattering constantly, throwing spatter to considerable 50-100 m height. This activity was interupted every 5-10 minutes by strong, hissing fountains lasting up to 20 seconds, and thowing incandescent material to up to about 250 height. At times, the force of the fountain activated a second vent next to it, on the SE side of the cone, apparently serving as an additional valve whenever the output rate during the fountains from the cone itself becomes too large. Two other vents in the central crater complex were large, constantly glowing holes, but showed only occasional weak spattering and erupted only rarely strombolian bursts of spatter to 100-150 m height. A fith vent is not visible from Pizzo, but on a visit on 15 June, it was observed to erupt spatter occasionally to about 100 m height (about once per hour).On 25 of June, it was not erupting.
Last, there were two active vents in the NE crater (towards the village of Stromboli), one of which erupts spectacularly about every 20-30 minutes, throwing lots of incandescent bombs towards the E, showering the outer crater slope with bombs. These eruptions also produced dense ash clouds.

Etna continues its worrying slumber. After an isolated phreatic explosive event in January, the diafragma separating Bocca Nuova crater and the Voragine (the former Central crater) as well as the wall separating the two craters inside Bocca Nuova have mostly collapsed, leaving what is now best described as one single central crater with several pits and vents at considerable depth.
Several VolcanoDiscovery groups visited Etna on various occasions over the past weeks, and found strong degassing taking place from fractures in the walls and the bottoms of the various vents inside the central crater, as well as audible but deep-seated explosive activity inside North-East crater.

Based on pilot reports, ash clouds identified from Ubinas during 9-11 Junereached altitudes of 6.7 km (22,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and SW. Accordingto news articles, approximately 550 families were evacuated on 10 and 11 June.

During 7-13 June, small-to-moderate explosions at Tungurahua produced plumes composed of gas, steam, and small amounts of ash. On 9 and 11 June, light ash fall was reported in nearby areas. According to the Washington VAAC, night-time incandescence was observed on satellite imagery through the reporting period.

During 7-13 June, seismic signals indicated that the lava spine continued to grow inside the crater of Mount St. Helens. On 9 June, pilots reported that anash-and-steam plume, generated after a rockfall following a M 3.2 earthquake,reached an altitude of 4.6 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l. The volcano remained at VolcanoAdvisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code Orange.

During 2-9 June, the Soufrière Hills lava dome continued to grow at a high rate of 10 cubic meters per second on average (average growth rate during January-April was 6 cubic meters per second). Vigorous ash-and-gas venting occurred from a vent to the W of the lava dome. According to a pilot report and MVO, the Washington VAAC reported on 9 June that a steam plume with little ash content reached an altitude of 1.5 km (5,000 ft) a.s.l. Weak incandescence was observed on satellite imagery on 10 June.

According to the Darwin VAAC, satellite imagery showed small ash plumes from Semeru on 6 and 12 June and minor ash-and-steam plumes on 11 and 13 June, all at unknown altitudes.

During 7-13 June, lava from Kilauea continued to flow off of a lava delta into the ocean at the East Lae`apuki entry. Incandescence was visible from drainhole event during the reporting period. Tremor remained at a very typical moderate level at Pu`u `O`o. The summit of Kilauea slowly inflated.

Based on information from JMA, the Tokyo VAAC reported that ash plumes continuing from Sakura-jima reached altitudes of 3.4 km (11,000 ft) a.s.l. during 7-12 June. JMA issued a Volcanic Advisory on 12 June.On June 10, the Sakura-jima Volcano Research Center reported an increase inlow-frequency earthquakes since mid-March and in small tremors with a less than 2 minute duration since mid-May 2006. A thermal anomaly at the volcano grew insize after February 2006.

Small explosions on 3, 10-11, and 12 June generated steam-and-ash emissions from Canlaon that reached maximum heights of 1 km above the summit (11,300 ft a.s.l.) and drifted NW and SW.  Ash fell on the upper SW slopes during 10-12 June. The alert status was raised on 12 June to Alert Level 1 (scale 0 to 5), which restricts activity within 4 km of the summit.

According to PHIVOLCS, an ash-and-steam cloud from Bulusan on 7 June reached aheight of approximately 2 km above the summit (11,700 ft a.s.l.) and drifted N and NW. Light ashfall was reported 5 km N and trace amounts as far as 20 km N.The Alert Level was raised to 2 (scale 0 to 5), which means restricted entry within 4 km of the summit. On 10 June, an ash-and-steam cloud reached a height of ~1 km above the summit (8,400 ft a.s.l.) and drifted N and NE.  A newsarticle reported one death caused by an asthma attack from exposure to ash.

The eruption of Merapi is increasing in intensity and has claimed the first deaths: Two people were killed on Wednesday 14 June, 2006, by a particularly strong pyroclastic flow that reached the area, travelling almost 7 km from the summit. The two men managed to run into a shelter at the village of Kaliadem, east of Kinahrejo near Bebeng, on the SE flank of the volcano, but were trapped inside because flow covered the shelter with about 2 meters of hot deposits. Although they survived for a while, the heat of the deposits effectively baked them to death. Recue workers tried for over 24 hours to free them, interrupted only when new pyroclastic flows were theatening to reach the area again. When the shelter was dug out free, they could only find the dead bodies. The flow also damaged some buildings, which is the first time, the eruption affected structures and villages as well.

After less than 24 hours, the alert level of Merapi volcano has been raised back again to the highest status of 4 on June 14, 2006. The decision followed a marked increase in activity with more frequent and longer pyroclastic flows travelling up to 3 km down the SW and SE flanks of the volcano. 

Karymsky volcano remains the most active volcano on Kamchatka, with strong strombolian to vulcanian activity, often producing ash-loaden plumes reaching 4-5 km altitude.

Weak activity continues at Kanlaon volcano: Between 3 and 12 June, 4 small phreatic explosions occurred at the summit crater of Kanlaon volcano (3 June, 10 June, 2 times on 12 June). The explosions produced mainly steam and gas as well as small quantities of ash to heights up to 1000 m. Light ash-fall occurred on the upper slopes of the volcano. An exclusion zone of 4 km around the crater is being maintained. --->more on Kanlaon volcano

Merapi has quieted down a bit after part of the lava dome collapsed on Friday evening. Less numbers and smaller pyroclastic flows have been recorded since the event that removed approximately 1/3 of the lava dome. As a result, VSI has downgraded the alert status from 4 to 3 on 13 June 2006 at 11.00 WIB.

During 3-5 June, small-to-moderate explosions at Tungurahua produced plumes composed of gas, steam, and small amounts of ash. On 5 June, light ashfall was reported in areas on the SW flank. Night-time incandescence was observed on 3 and 5 June.

During 31 May to 6 June, seismic signals indicated the lava spine continued to grow inside the crater of Mount St. Helens and occasionally produced minor rock falls. The volcano remained at Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code Orange.

During 26 May to 2 June, the Soufrière Hills lava dome continued to grow at a high rate of 10 cubic meters per second (average growth rate during January-April was 6 cubic meters per second). Numerous rockfalls and vigorous ash venting occurred from a vent to the W of the lava dome. A pilot reported that a small ash plume extended NW on 31 May. Ash plumes extending W and NW were visible on satellite imagery during 1-5 June and reached a maximum altitude of 2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l. on 3 and 5 June. An ash plume on 4 June extended N of Puerto Rico.

According to the Darwin VAAC, a pilot reported multiple minor eruptions from Semeru on 4 June. Small ash plumes were detected on satellite imagery on 5-6 June.

On 4 and 5 June, intermittent eruptions at Sakura-Jima, from an upper E flank near or within the 1946 vent, produced ash clouds that reached unknown heights. No ash was visible on satellite imagery. This was the first reported Sakura-jima eruption from a vent outside the summit crater in 58 years. The 1946 vent was the source of major lava flows that reached the E and S coasts of the island.

The Alert Level at Merapi remained at 4, the highest level, during 31 May to 6 June. Sulfur-dioxide plumes were observed daily during this period and reached a height of 1.3 km above the summit (13,900 ft a.s.l.) on 1 June.  According to the Darwin VAAC, low-level emissions were visible on satellite imagery on 1 and 6 June. Multiple pyroclastic flows reached a maximum distance of 4 km SE toward the Gendol River and 3.5 km SW toward the Krasak and Boyong Rivers. The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) reported on 31 May that lava avalanches moved towards the W for the first time during the recent eruption. According to a volcanologist in Yogyakarta, lava-flow distances and lava-dome volume had both approximately doubled since the 27 May M 6.2 earthquake. The lava-dome volume was estimated at 4 million cubic meters. 

On 6 June, groups living near the base of the volcano began to move into temporary shelters. Activities remain restricted within a 7 km radius from the volcano's summit and within 300 m of the banks of Krasak/Bebeng, Bedog, and Boyong Rivers to the SW, and Gendol River to the SE.

During 31 May to 5 June, lava from Kilauea continued to flow off of a lava delta into the ocean at the East Lae`apuki entry. Incandescence was visible from East Pond Vent, January Vent, Drainhole, and South Wall Complex when weather permitted observations. Incandescence high up on the PKK lava tube was observed on 4 June from the ground and by GOES satellite. 

During 27 May to 2 June, ash explosions from the summit of Karymsky continued. A large thermal anomaly in the crater was observed during 27-31 May. KVERT warned that activity from the volcano could affect nearby low-flying aircraft. Karymsky remained at Concern Color Code Orange.

According to news articles, eruptive activity at Karthala that occurred on 28 May had ceased. No seismic activity was detected during 31 May to 1 June.

PHIVOLCS reported that an ash-and-steam cloud emitted from Bulusan on 31 May reached a height of 1.5 km above the summit (10,100 ft a.s.l.). Light ashfall,from trace amounts to 1.5 mm thickness, fell in areas W and NW of the volcano.Bulusan remained at alert Level 1, with a permanent danger zone of 4 km around the summit.

On 3 June, the alert level for Ubinas was increased to orange due to heightened explosive activity. During 31 May to 5 June, ash plumes reached altitudes of 7.9km (26,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N, NE, SE, and S. According to a news report,on 5 June, officials in S Peru prepared to evacuate approximately 480 families.

Pyroclastic flow travelling on Merapi's SW side towards Krasak river (27 May 2006)

Volcanic activity at Merapi continues to increase gradually since the earthquake of 27 May 2006, with the growing lava dome shedding glowing lava avalanches and pyroclastic flows that increase in number.

Merapi continues to be in an elevated state of activity; the dome continues to grow and shed pyroclastic flows of small to moderate size (up to 3-4 km) down its SW and SE flanks. It now over 100 m high and an estimated 150-200,000 cubic meters are added per day, reduced by the volume of the pyroclastic flows. The risk of a major dome collapse increases. Authorities are warning residents to enter the 7 km exclusion zones, and try to forcefully evacuate some of the most exposed areas.

Local newspapers report that the eruption at Karthala volcano already has ended, with the lava lake being crusted over and seismicity having decreased to background levels on the afternoon of June, 1st, 2006.

Seismicity at Piton de la Fournaise volcano over the past months (source: OVPF)

Extension of fissures at Piton de la Fournaise volcano over the past months (source: OVPF)

Piton de la Fournaise volcano might have an eruption in the near future.
As the volcano observatory (OVPF) reports, seismicity continues to be extraordinarily high, after it had started to increase dramatically from around 12 of April, 2006, reaching a peak around 15 of May and decreasing slightly after that date. Both extensionmeters and GPS measurements show an marked inflation of the volcano: monitored fissures near the summit cone have opened by 0.12-0.15 mm and the summit crater has extended about 5 cm and risen between 1-3 cm.
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Source: OVPF (Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise)

During 24-25 May, seismicity remained at levels typical of the continuing lava-dome extrusion at Mount St. Helens. On 29 May, a M 3.1 earthquake and simultaneous large rockfall occurred. An ash plume was produced at 08:10 thatreached an altitude of 4.9 km - 6.1 km (16,000-20,000 ft) a.s.l. according to ground observations and pilot reports. An additional pilot report suggested the plume reached an altitude of 7.3 km (24,000 ft) a.s.l. By 1308, ash from the event was no longer visible on satellite imagery. On 30 May, the rockfall was confirmed to predominantly originate from the N side of the growing fin. The volcano remained at Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code Orange.

According to the Darwin VAAC, an ash plume from Manam was visible on satellite imagery on 24 and 25 May, extending ~100 km WNW.  On 26 May, an ash plume visible on satellite imagery reached an altitude below 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l.and drifted 48 km WNW. According to RVO (Rabaul Volcano Observatory), low-level activity occurred on 30 May

During 24-30 May, lava from Kilauea continued to flow off of a lava delta into the ocean at the East Lae`apuki entry. Incandescence was visible from East PondVent, January Vent, and Drainhole during 24-30 May, and from South Wall Complexon 24 and 30 May. Tremor remained at a very typical moderate level at Pu`u `O`o.Small amounts of inflation and deflation occurred during the report period.

Based on interpretations of seismic and satellite data, KVERT reported that ash explosions from the summit crater of Karymsky continued during 20-26 May. On 27May, the Tokyo VAAC reported an ash plume an elevation of 3.7 km (12,000 ft)a.s.l.  KVERT warned that activity from the volcano could affect nearby low-flying aircraft. Karymsky remained at Concern Color Code Orange

On 29 May, INSIVUMEH reported that fumarolic emissions from Fuego reached a height of ~125 m above the volcano (~12,750 ft a.s.l.). Lava flows extended ~400m SW toward the Ceniza River. Avalanches occurred from the lava-flow fronts. Incandescent material was propelled from the crater tens of meters. Plumes reached heights of 200 m above the crater (13,000 ft a.s.l.) and dispersed W and NW.

Based on a pilot report, the Darwin VAAC reported an ash plume from Barren Island on 26 May that reached an altitude below 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N at 1230.

Based on a pilot report, the Washington VAAC reported that an ash plume from Anatahan reached an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. on 29 May and drifted W.Emissions from the E crater of vog (volcanic fog), steam, and a gas plume were visible on satellite imagery at about 1333 and increased prior to generation of the ash plume. A report issued from the Washington VAAC on 30 May at 05:35 indicated a faint, low-level gas-and-ash plume extending from the summit.

Pyroclastic flow at Merapi volcano

After a period of heightened activity during and following the 27 May, 2006, earthquake that took more than 6000 lifes in the Yogyakarta area, Merapi continues to emit glowing avalanches and pyroclastic flows travelling up to 2-3 km from the summit.

AFP press photo of Kartala volcano on 30 May, 2006

The lava lake at the crater bottom is still active, alimented by one or two fountains. No lateral fissures have opened and the amount of gas and ash released is small.

As our correspondant Donald Tapehe from Manado reports, Soputan is getting restless: "Also Mt. Soputan has been showing activity. The local government has determined to raise alert status for all people who live near Mt. Soputan. One week ago my friend (a climber) told me that he saw yellow/brown smoke on the peak of Mt. Soputan from the caldera. Now, it's difficult to take breathe at the campsite, because of the poisonous gasses which blow up from the old crater." 

According to news reports, on 28 May aerial observations by scientists from the Department of Geology and Mines revealed that Lake Voui of Manaro volcano had changed from blue to red in color. Aoba remains at an Alert level 2, which means the crater area is restricted.

As our correspondant Donald Tapehe reports on 1st of June, 2006, Lokon volcano near Manado is showing signs of unrest: "Four days ago I saw unaccustomed thing on it. Burned grass around the crater can be seen from Tomohon town."