After nearly 20 years of inactivity, the Pico de Fogo awakened with a violent flank eruption on the 23rd of November 2014. In less than 4 weeks , this eruption has devastated local communities and caused a humanitarian crisis as it forced 1500 local people to flee and it is likely that another 2000 will have to move to temporary shelters. Media coverage of this natural disaster has so far been remarkably small despite the fact that it is Fogo’s largest volcanic eruption in decades, causing more damage to nearby settlements, and in a shorter time, than the 1995 eruption. [less]

For more than 5 days, no significant explosive activity and only minor lava effusion was observed at the vents. On the other hand, magmatic SO2 (sulfur dioxide) emissions remain high and even increased from 7,500 to 9,000 tons per day. That could mean that a new batch of magma is on the rise and lead to a rejuvenation of the volcanic activity. The next days will probably tell.
The lava front stopped 600 m from what was once Bangaeira village, at 3.5 km distance from the next inhabited place, Fernao Gomes village, which could be at risk if the lava flows resume from there. On the other hand, if the old channels and tubes have now been blocked, which is likely the case due to lack of supply, new flows would need to re-start from the source and travel all the way to there first. In other hand, the threat to villages on the eastern coast now seems minimal. [less]

The abundant presence of gases and ash in the area of the Cha das Caldeiras caldera promts authorities to maintain a total access restriction.
By the afternoon of 10 Dec, the most advanced flow was approx. 600 m ENE of the rmeains of Bangaeira village. Whether or not it will reach the break in slope to the outer caldera flank and potentially reach the populated coastal area is impossible to predict. [less]

With 2 villages destroyed, more than 1700 people displaced and without some of their most valuable economic possession, farmland, this now 15 days old eruption is one of the worst volcanic disasters of the century. The history of 150 years of settlement in the Cha caldera is now under lava.
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If the eruption continues long enough, the lava flow, following the downwards slope, would eventually reach the eastern coast. [less]

The flow is now headed towards Bangaeira village, which is threatened to suffer the same fate as Portela in a short time. Authorities ordered full evacuation of the area. One of the main access roads, only opened a few days ago, was also destroyed again by the lava flows, making the evacuation of people and remaining goods difficult. [less]

At the eruptive fissure, 3 vents seem to still be active and explosive activity has decreased a lot. The eruption continues to be dominated by lava effusion.
The large flow that covered part of Portela during the past days stopped yesterday, probably caused by a temporary (?) drop in effusion rate which in turn lead to the clogging of the tube that alimented it. [less]

So far, the lava flows have destroyed approx. 50% of the village, 57 houses (37 of which yesterday) including the headquarters of the Parque Natural do Fogo, a school, hotel, 51 tanks, various agricultural buildings and a significant area, about 30 hectares of farmland.
The following video by INVOLCAN shows the strong strombolian activity at the vent: [less]

Several more houses have been burnt and destroyed by the advancing lava flows in Portela village.
A SO2 plume is drifting south from Fogo and can be seen on satellite imagery. It reaches an altitude of approx. 9,000 ft (3 km), and has the potential to create acid rain. Gas and dust concentrations in the southern part of the island have been high enough to cause health problems (breathing disorders, vomiting, dizziness, headaches etc). [less]

Although explosive activity has decreased at the vents, it seems that lava effusion picked up. The advance of some of the lava flow fronts in Portela village picked up again this morning, reaching 20 meters per hour. Local sources mention that seismic activity also increased. ...more [read all]

Activity, after having slowed down a bit yesterday, picked up again this morning, as a new vent opened above the eruption fissure. ...more [read all]

The eruption continues, but the situation is critical inside the Cha caldera. The northern lava flow branch has started to enter the village of Portela and today destroyed and/or damaged several buildings, including the headquarters of the Fogo Nature Park. ...more [read all]

The eruption continues with little changes. Lava fountaining from the new vents feeds two main lava flows inside the Cha caldera, one to the south, the other to the north. ...more

The recent eruption of the Pico do Fogo continues to produce lava fountains from two vents on the volcano's flank. The erupted lava collects in rapidly growing flows that destroy roads and houses near the caldera, as shown in the new BBC footage below. ...more [read all]

The new eruption, so far small inside the Cha caldera, continues. It is taking place from a fissure with two closely spaced vents on the southwest side of the Pico de Fogo, very near to the 1995 eruption vents. ...more [read all]

A new eruption started at the volcano this morning around 10:00 local time. The aviation alert was raised to red due to possible ash emissions that could harm aircraft in the area. ...more [read all]