Fuego volcano news & eruption update
Fuego volcano (Guatemala): largest eruption in 10 years
Sunday May 20, 2012 18:28 PM | BY: T
Lava flows and ejected lava bombs from the summit crater of Fuego on 19 May. (Image courtesy of CONRED, republished on Eruptions Blog)
Fuego volcano in Guatemala had a major eruption on Saturday (19 May). The eruption was one of its largest in recent years since the start of near continuous activity in 2002.
The eruption was both explosive and effusive. According to news, the eruption began at 2:45 a.m. with large explosions and lava fountains possibly up to 1 km high from the summit crater. Large incandescent bombs were ejected to considerable distances and showered the summit cone of the volcano. A 500 m long lava flow traveled down on the SW flank towards the Ceniza ravine. The eruption also produced an ash column reaching 5 km (16,000 ft altitude) and pyroclastic flows probably generated mostly by cascading lava blocks traveling down the steep cone's flank into Las Lajas, El Jute y Ceniza valleys.
Ash fall was reported from nearby villages mainly to the S and SW including Morelia, Panimaché I and II, Sangre Cristo and Yepocapa.
The Guatemalan government has closed the airspace at a radius of 40 km around the volcano, but there were no reports of evacuations, although the volcano is being closely monitored.
The eruption decreased on Sunday, but still produced with intermittent smaller explosions producing ash clouds up to 700 m height.
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- Information about: Fuego volcano
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Links / Sources:
Links / Sources:
- Fuego in Guatemala has Largest Eruption in Years (Eruptions Blog)
Previous news
Thursday, Apr 12, 2012
During 9-10 April explosions from Fuego produced ash plumes that rose 100-900 m above the crater and drifted 10-15 km E and SE. ... [more]
Thursday, Apr 05, 2012
INSIVUMEH reported that during 31 March-1 April and 3-4 April explosions from Fuego produced ash plumes that rose 500-800 m above the crater and drifted 10 km W and NW. ... [more]
Thursday, Mar 08, 2012
INSIVUMEH reported that during 1-2 March explosions from Fuego produced ash plumes that rose 600 m above the crater and drifted 15 km W and SW. Ashfall was reported in Yepocapa (W), Sangre de Cristo (W), and Panimache II (SW). Some explosions produced rumbling and degassing sounds. A 300-m-long lava flow descended the SW flank and produced block avalanches that reached vegetated areas. On 4 March the number of explosions increased to about 4-5 per hour. Explosions generated ash plumes that rose 600 m above the crater and drifted 12 km SSW. Rumbling sounds were heard 7 km away. ... [more]
Tuesday, Mar 06, 2012
The effusion rate of the lava flow from the summit crater of Fuego seems to have increased in recent days. The flow is now reaching a length of 350 m, according to the latest reports of INSIVUMEH. Summit crater explosions (Strombolian style) are low to moderate in intensity. [more]
Saturday, Feb 18, 2012
A slight increase at Fuego volcano has been observed in the past days. Occasional strombolian explosions are producing light gray ash columns between 200-500 m height above the crater, accompanied by rumblings. The explosions eject incandescent material to about 100 m. The bombs fall back in the area of the crater rim and cause weak avalanches. ... [more]
