IG Report on recent activity at Tungurahua Volcano

The Geophysical Institute of Ecuador (IG) has posted a special report summarizing the recently increased activity of Tungurahua volcano:
"Until last week activity remained at moderate to low levels with small pulses of activity lasting a few days. This quickly changed from Sunday 5 August, when there were two explosions of moderate size.
Friday 10 morning there was an explosion of small magnitude, after which the volcano remained with seismic tremor for more than 5 hours, accompanied by roars of different intensity and emissions of water vapor with moderate to low amounts of ash, accompanied by roars of different intensities.
In the following days, more explosions occurred of low to moderate magnitude and characteristics similar to those already described. As a result of these explosions there were minor ash falls mainly in the western and south-western sectors of the volcano. In the morning of Monday 13 August, light ash falls occurred in the city of Ambato.
From 05h00 (TL) today (14 Aug), there was a substantial increase in seismic tremor, accompanied by intense bangs and roars that in some cases caused the windows vibrate in the Tungurahua Volcano Observatory (OVT), and even slight movements of the soil in Cusúa. Similarly, the steam emission increased, as well as the amount of ash therein. As a result, in the morning, moderate to major ash fall occurred in Cusúa Pillate (Canton Pelileo) and Choglontús (Canton Penipe).
This activity still remained until the time of publishing this report (early 15 Aug GMT). Satellite images this morning (10h45 LT) showed that the ash plumes took a northwestern and westerly direction and is spreading over the provinces of Manabi and Guayas.
...
The instrumental data also show an increase in the values ​​of monitored parameters (seismic activity, SO2 flow and deformation of the volcanic cone), but we have not found evidence that this activity might increase to levels as those during the eruptions of July and August 2006 in the short term.
Pulses of stronger activity are not ruled out and important activity could occur in the medium and long term.
The technical staff of IG is permanently monitoring this activity and if it displays a greater increase, this will be communicated to the public and the authorities through various means."

• Toutes les nouvelles pour: Tungurahua volcan
• Informations sur: Tungurahua volcan

• Reporte de la actividad reciente en el Volcán Tungurahua (reporte especial 14 de agosto de 2012, IG)

Actualités précédentes