Volcanic activity worldwide 30 Dec 2018: Etna volcano, Santiaguito, Fuego, Popocatépetl, Shiveluch,...
Sunday Dec 30, 2018 21:00 PM |

Map of today's active volcanoes

Ash emissions from Etna volcano yesterday (image: Emanuela Carone / VolcanoDiscovery Italia)

Glow visible from Sheveluch volcano this evening (KVERT webcam)

Satellite image of Shiveluch volcano on 30 Dec 2018

This morning's explosion at Shiveluch volcano seen on the KVERT webcam

Satellite image of Shiveluch volcano on 29 Dec 2018

Eruption of Gunung Agung volcano on Bali this morning (image: VSI)

Satellite image of Agung volcano on 29 Dec 2018

Seismic activity as well remains elevated. Today, a cluster of small earthquakes occurred at shallow depths (1-8 km) beneath the SW flank, which could indicate another intrusion beneath that area. The largest was a magnitude 3.4 event at 19:30 local time, felt by some residents nearby.
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): The eruptive activity of the volcano continues; glow is visible on the webcam and suggests that indeed lava dome growth has resumed.
Satellite data show the ash plume from this morning's larger eruption is still at 5-6 km altitude a.s.l. continues to drift for about 245 km to the south-west and later west from the volcano.
... [read more]
...30 Dec:
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: VA EMISSIONS CONTINUING OBS VA DTG:30/0820Z
...30 Dec:
A powerful, brief explosion has sent ash possibly up to 40,000ft (12km), prompting KVERT to raise the Aviation Colour Code to Red. Activity has recently returned to a moderate level following a hiatus for most of the year. Explosions like this are typical for Sheveluch- many have happened in the past 25 years as dome-building continues.
...29 Dec:
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: VA AT 20181229/2020Z FL150 EXTD W OBS VA DTG:29/2020Z
Dukono (Halmahera): (30 Dec) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: CONTINUOUS VA TO FL070 MOV ESE 20KTS OBS VA DTG:30/0450Z
Agung (Bali): The volcano erupted again early this morning (30 Dec 2018) at 04:09 local time. A moderately sized sudden explosion lasted for 3 minutes 8 seconds, caused by accumulated overpressure of gasses inside and under the lava plug that had formed on top of the conduit by the magma erupted in the 2017-18 eruption.
The Indonesian Volcanological Survey reported that "fire" (i.e. incandescence) was observed in the summit area of the crater, but the height of the ash column was not observed due to fog. Based on satellite data, a plume rose to approx. 18,000 ft (5.5 km) and drifted southeast. Light ash fall was noticed in the Karangasem Regency in the southeast sector of Mount Agung, such as in Amlapura City and several other villages such as Seraya Barat, Seraya Tengah, and Tenggalinggah Village.
... [read more]
...29 Dec:
Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: VA TO FL180 MOV SE OBS VA DTG:29/2110Z
Krakatau (Sunda Strait, Indonesia): On 17 Oct, explosions were particularly violent at Anak Krakatau. We show a series of images of a spectacular explosion captured from close range by boat. 2 months later, the cone of Anak Krakatau collapsed into the sea on the evening of 22 Dec 2018, triggering a catastrophic tsunami (more info).
Continued activity that accumulated more and more weight on the cone, built on top of a steep underwater slope in the SW (left in the images), and shaking by explosions like this might well have been the final trigger for that tragic event.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: INTMT VA EMS.
Santiaguito (Guatemala): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA EM AT 1240Z.
Fuego (Guatemala): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA EM AT 1245Z
Reventador (Ecuador): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA EMS OBS MOV W FM SUMMIT.
Sabancaya (Peru): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: SPORADIC EMISSIONS OF VA
Volcano Activity Summary for 30 Dec 2018:
Currently erupting:
Ambrym (Vanuatu): several lava lakes, currently flank eruption inside the caldera near Marum (updated 17 Dec 2018)Dukono (Halmahera): mild strombolian activity, continuous intense ash emissions (updated 28 Nov 2017)
Ebeko (Paramushir Island): intermittent ash eruptions (updated 7 Oct 2018)
Erebus (Antarctica): active lava lake in summit crater (updated 8 Dec 2014)
Erta Ale (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): active lava lake in the south crater of the summit caldera (updated 12 Oct 2018)
Fuego (Guatemala): lava flows on S and W flanks, lava fountaining from summit vent (updated 6 Jun 2018)
Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): stromolian and phreatomagmatic explosions (updated 29 Jul 2018)
Krakatau (Sunda Strait, Indonesia): Major eruption ends (updated 29 Dec 2018)
Masaya (Nicaragua): active lava lake ini summit crater (updated 12 Jul 2016)
Merapi (Central Java, Indonesia): growing lava dome in summit crater, incandescent rockfalls from dome (updated 29 Dec 2018)
Nevados de Chillán (Central Chile): sporadic mild to moderate ash emissions (updated 31 Oct 2018)
Nyiragongo (DRCongo): new vent on crater floor (updated 9 Sep 2016)
Pacaya (Guatemala): strombolian activity in summit crater, lava flow effusion (updated 29 Apr 2018)
Planchón-Peteroa (Central Chile and Argentina): Continuous mild ash emissions (updated 19 Dec 2018)
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): intermittent explosions of varying size, ash emissions (updated 16 Dec 2018)
Reventador (Ecuador): lava flow on SW flank (updated 1 Dec 2017)
Sabancaya (Peru): frequent moderate explosions, intense ash emissions (updated 1 Dec 2017)
Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): Resumed explosions (updated 20 Dec 2018)
Santiaguito (Guatemala): intermittent strong explosions from growing Caliente dome (updated 9 May 2017)
Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): growing lava dome, mild strombolian activity in summit crater (updated 10 Oct 2016)
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): intense strombolian explosions, occasional lava overflows from vents (updated 26 Dec 2018)
Turrialba (Costa Rica): sporadic mild ash emissions (updated 13 Nov 2018)
Yasur (Tanna Island, Vanuatu): ash emissions, weak strombolian explosions (updated 16 Dec 2017)
Eruption warning / minor activity:
Agung (Bali): degassing, sporadic small to moderate explosions (updated 30 Dec 2018)Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): intermittent mild ash emissions (updated 8 Dec 2018)
Barren Island (Indian Ocean): strombolian activity, lava flow effusion on northern flank (updated 16 Dec 2018)
Cleveland (Aleutian Islands, Alaska): 80 m diameter circular lava flow observed in summit crater, low seismic unrest (updated 29 Dec 2018)
Etna (Sicily, Italy): steam and ash emissions from Bocca Nuova (updated 30 Dec 2018)
Karangetang (Siau Island, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia): Significant increase in activity; alert level raised (updated 22 Dec 2018)
Kuchinoerabu-jima (Ryukyu Islands): Minor eruption (updated 23 Oct 2018)
Manam (Papua New Guinea): Very strong explosive eruption (updated 16 Dec 2018)
Mayon (Luzon Island, Philippines): intermittent small explosions, degassing (updated 15 Nov 2018)
Ol Doinyo Lengai (Tanzania): effusion of natrocarbonatite lava inside the pit crater in the northern main crater (updated 16 Dec 2018)
Sangeang Api (Indonesia): New small ash emissions (updated 15 Oct 2018)
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Powerful explosion, Aviation code to red (updated 30 Dec 2018)
Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): Volcano slowly calming down (updated 19 Dec 2018)
Veniaminof (Alaska Peninsula, USA): Eruption eases, color code back to orange (updated 20 Dec 2018)
Previous news
![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Saturday, Dec 29, 2018
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): (28 Dec) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: ERUPTION AT 20181228/1711Z FL310 REPORTED OBS VA DTG:28/2120Z ... [more]
![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Friday, Dec 28, 2018
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): (28 Dec) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: VA EMISSIONS CONTINUING OBS VA DTG:28/0520Z ... [more]
![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Thursday, Dec 27, 2018
Etna (Sicily, Italy): The decreasing trend in surface and earthquake activity on and around Etna continues and there is little to nothing left of the vigorous flank eruption that had started on Christmas Eve (24 Dec 2018). However, the volcano is far from quiet and there are indications that more and potentially more dangerous activity could be in the making. ... [more]
![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Wednesday, Dec 26, 2018
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Following an increase in activity detected at the volcano, Italian Civil Protection raised the alert level from "green" to "yellow", pointing out that the volcano is in "an unstable situation" and should be monitored more closely. ... [more]
![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Tuesday, Dec 25, 2018
Etna (Sicily, Italy): Bad weather has mostly prevented clear sights of the new flank eruption today, but it seems that while it is still going on, lava emission from the new fissure vent high in the Valle del Bove that opened yesterday has decreased. ... [more]