Worldwide Volcano News and Updates
Colima's Volcano of Fire had a spectacular, predawn explosion Wednesday 27 of July, shooting incandescent rock, ash and steam nearly 9,000 feet into the air over western Mexico. The eruption sent ash raining down on nearby communities, but officials had no reports of major damage.
Fuego volcano had a small explosive eruption on 17 July that produced an ash plume reaching a height of 3.5-4 km above the crater and producing small pyroclastic flows that traveled down Santa Teresa and Taniluyá ravines.
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No significant changes have been recorded at Popocatepetl volcano. Weak emission of ash and steam continue to occur at a rate of a few per day, lending a touch of romance to the snow-capped volcano.
The explosive activity at Shiveluch volcano is increasing and the alert level has been breifly raised to its highest state of RED between 8 and 9 July. Moderate explosions took place during the past week, some of which produced ash plumes of up to 7 km a.s.l. Seismicity at the volcano is increasing.
The eruption at Colima seems to be decreasing in intensity. During the last week, only weaker explosions, typically 2-3 per day, have been taking place at Colima. However, lahars are remobilizing large amounts of the recent ash deposits and frequently decend ravines especially on the S and E flank of Colima.
A visit of the VolcanoDiscovery group on Etna's summit craters found no visible activity from any of the summit craters and no fresh deposits of activity in the recent past.
Read allSince the 7th of July, seismic activity at Merapi volcano has been increasing and deformation measurements noted displacements of 0-15 cm at the summit area. As a consequence, the Volcanologic Survey of Indonesia raised the the alert level at the volcano to 2.
Read allThe eruptions at Reventador volcano in Ecuador's eastern cordillera continues into early July with the emission of overlapping, thick blocky lava flows, occasional vulcanian explosions, new fumarolic activity on the N flank of the cone, and the emission of steam, gas and ash.
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The VolcanoDiscovery team is now on Stromboli on the Grand Tour of Italy. Activity at the summit craters is at low to medium levels with a large fluctuation on a scale of several hours to days.
Read allAs the USGS reports, a strong explosion occurred at Anatahan on 3 July at 16h46 local time. It produced a SSE-drifting plume reaching a height of ~12.2 km (~40,000 ft) a.s.l. Volcanic fog (vog) was reported to have drifted over the southern parts of the islands of Saipan and Tinian. During the rest of the last week, steam and ash emissions were at lower levels.
On the 5th of July, a new strong explosion took place at Colima volcano (Mexico), producing an ash plume of about 5 km height (3 miles).
On 30 June, 3 lahars caused by mobilized ash deposits descended Barranca La Lumbre and Barranca Montegrande to distances of 10km and 7-8km. No damages to inhabited areas occurred.
A submarine volcano erupted in Japan. It is located about 6 kilometers north-northeast of Minami-Iwojima island in Ogasawaramura (about 1,300 kilometers from Tokyo).
On the evening of 2 July, the Japanese coast guard spotted large amounts of steam rising to about 1 km height above the sea at the site of the submarine volcano, as well as a strong discoloration of the water. On photos taken on 3 July, porous, steaming lava blocks are appearing on the surface of the sea. Ships are advised to avoid the area.
Karymsky volcano is showing incread seismic activity. Moderate ash emissions send small plumes to up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) a.s.l. traveling SW as observed by pilots. On 23 June, the alert level at Karymsky volcano was increased to Concern Color Code Orange.
Read allThe Mexican Civil Defense informed that during last 24 hours two ash eruptions have been registered as well as lahars without damages to the populations bordering to the volcano .
On slopes of the volcano a great amount of demolished trees was observed generated by the piroclastic flows, which increases the risk of pyroclastic avalanches in any future volcanic activity.
During the past week, several ash explosions have taken place, sending plumes to heights of up to 5,500 m a.s.l., drifting N and NW.
Langila volcano continues to erupt, producing ash fall over near-by communities, where about 10,000 people live. Ashfall is causing respiratory problems and has damaged small plantations, food and water supply. Authorities have started to evacuate some people in the most affected villages and to bring in temporary shelter, water and food suplies.
Reventador Volcano in Ecuador has started to erupt again on Tuesday. According to Hugo Yepez, director of Geophysics Institute of the National Polytechnical School (IGEPN), a lava flow inside the crater has appeared. There is an increased possibility of explosive events in the near future.
Reventador, 3,485 meters high, is a symmetrical stratovolcano that had a major explosion on November 3, 2002, when a thick layer of ash reached the capital Quito.
The world's longest ongoing eruptino continues with a beatiful display: new breakouts of lava have appeared on the slope towards the sea (on the E branch of the PKK flow high on Pulama pali) on the morning of June 20, forming a narrow river of lava.
Read allFuego remains in a state of weak strombolian activity. During the past weekend, INSIVUMEH reported, 6 week strombolian explosions with ejection of incandescent material to heights of 20 m and more than 20 explosions producing mainly white steam have taken place. The lava flow on the S flank is still active, but its front does not advance significantly and is located at 300m distance from the crater.
On June 20, two lava flows descended yesterday from the central crater and have reached 150 and 200 m length. Small strombolian explosions continue from the crater.
Incandescent blocks are extruded as up to 15 m high spines (?) from the lava dome inside the crater of the "Domo Caliente" (the glowing dome). Explosions create gray steam and ash plumes of up to 1,4 km height. Since February, a small lava flow on the SE flank of the lava dome is active, producing small avalanches of blocks detaching from its front, that accumuate in a delta at about 1450 m a.s.l.
Read allSince the powerful explosion on June 9, that destroyed the lava dome in the summit crater of Colima, no further events of that scale, only light and less frequent emissions of ash have occurred.
As the USGS reports, seismicity at Anatahan volcano remains high. On June, 20, another powerful explosion that lasted 2-3 mintues sent an ash plume to a height of 20,000 ft (ca. 6 km). A plume located at the 10,000 ft level is extending for about 375 nautical miles (ca. 630 km) NNW and from there, a thin plume is travelling further N for another 816 nautical miles (ca. 1300 km).
The eruption at Anatahan continues at high levels. Frequent small to medium-sized explosions are occurring daily, during times of increased activity as often as every ten to twenty seconds. A dense ash and steam cloud is riging to 10,000 feet (ca. 3 km) and moving west at 10-15 knots. It extends about 100 nautical miles west, then thin ash and volcanic haze (vog) extends another 700 nm west beyond that. The plume then turns north-northeast and reaches as far north as 25 degrees latitude.
Read allThe Volcanological Surevy of Indonesia reports increased gas temperatures and tremor at Papandayan volcano and reaised the alert level from 1 to 2. Visitors are no longer allowed to go to Kawah Mas and Kawah Baru.
According to Indian news sources, the eruption is going on and has intensified. Lava fountaining, and strombolian explosions are ejecting material to up to 100m above the new vent, which has formed at the SW rim of the existent crater and might construct a new cone.
A team of scientists from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) visited the eruption site on June 13.
The eruption at Barren Island continues with moderate strombolian activity. According to the Indian press, the authorities of the Andaman islands are planning to arrange organized sight-seing boat trips to Barren Island in order to give tourists the unique opportunity to watch Inddia's only active volcano from the sea, as long as the eruptino still continues. The cost of the overnight-trip from Port Blair, about 140 away has yet to be fixed.
According to the Darwin VAAC, low-level ash plumes from Langila were visible on satellite imagery during 8-13 June. It is expected that the activity at Langila continues at fluctuating levels.
Read allDuring the past few days, Colima volcano has quieted down a bit after the dramatic series of powerful explosions between March 13 and June 9 2005, which culminated in the destructino of the lava dome. During the past days, only relatively weak steam and ash emission have taken place at Colima and the (few) people that had been evacuated on June 6 returned to their homes.
(17 June 2005: no changes)
Read allDegassing from the summit crater dome produces a white steam plume of about 100m height, while near-constant incandescent rock-falls detach from the active dome.
Weak explosions from the summit crater continue, producing some minor ash fall towards the W of the volcnao. The 400m-long lava flow towards the Taniluya canyon is still active.
The two lava flows from the central crater cone to the SW and W are still active, with fronts of about 200 and 300 m width near the saddle of Cerro Chino. Weak strombolian activity continues to be present at the summit crater.
As the USGS reports, a huge eruption, the second largest eruption since the reawakening of Anatahan on May 10, 2003, ocurred on June 12. The eruption consisted of two explosions that started at 16h22 local time, lasting 3 minutes and one at 16h31 that lasted two minutes.
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Phil and the Volcano Discovery Hawaii team went to Pu`u `O`o and confirmed that a small lava lake is still active inside the East Pond Vent. They were able to go down inside the crater; the hornito has increased in size, with a large hole in its center, maybe 20-25 meters wide, which contains the pond of lava probably 15 meters down the pit. Nice surface waves could be observed in there!
On June 10 at 02:34 and 07:13 (local time) two small exhalations were registered. The explosion of June 9 destoyed the lava dome in the top partially. An ash cloud traveled towards the South at an approximated speed of 55 km/h. Ash fell over some settlements near the volcano. The authorities said that the amount of ash emitted, until the moment, does not put in risk the health of the population.
Unconfirmed news reports state that a mud volcano on Narcondum Island erupted on 8 June. According to the news, "smoke and mud" were seen coming out of the crater of the mud volcano.
A new explosion happened on June 9, 21:54 local time, but probably less powerful than the previous ones.
Read allJune 21:
No significant changes; activity remains low.
In the last 24 hours no new explosions have been registered.
Over the past week, the new lava dome with a prominant spine continued to grow, at rates of up to several cm per day in some locations. Seismicity remains at low levels and only minor emissions of ash occrred.
GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1-7 June 2005:
Read allFrom the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1-7 June 2005:
Abbreviated from the GVP/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 1-7 June 2005:
At 23:05 local time on 6 June, another strong explosion took place at Colima volcano, sending an ash column to an altitude of 8,500 m a.s.l. which is drifting to the SW at approx. 70 km/h. Heavy ashfall occured in the cities of Colima and Villa de Álvarez and their surroundings. The use of dust masks was recommended by the authorities.
An exclusion perimeter of 7.5 kilometers (4.6 miles) around the volcano is in place.
Activity at Popocatépetl volcano remains low. Some few relatively weak steam and gas emissions occur per day. The exclusion zone of 12 km around the volcano is being maintained by the authorities. Weak explosions that eject ash and incansescnet blocks above the crater rim could be expected at any time. (Source: CENAPRED)
Karangetang has been moderately active during the past months, frequently producing small to medium-siyed ash explosions. Based on a pilot observation, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 30 May, 2005, ash from Karangetang was drifting eastwards from Karangetang volcano at a height below 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. The plume was not visible on satellite imagery.
Read allDukono volcano has been mildly active during the past months. The volcano is emitting small plumes of ash, which can frequently be detected on satellite images. The plume heights were usually not known.
A new lava flow of about 150 m length towards the valley of Taniluya river in the S of the volcano was observed this evening while the active flow front down at the W side of the volcano remains at about 1 km distance.
In the main crater, stronbolian activity continues. 8 out of 16 observed explosions, accompanied by "locomotive"-like noise, were seen to eject incandescent lava fragments out of the crater, to heights of less than 25m above the central crater rim. A constant, jet-engine like sound was also noted from the crater. Ash and steam plumes from the explosions reached up to about 700m height.
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Yesterday, a small dome collapse occurred at Santa Maria volcano, producing a pyroclastic flow and ash cloud that caused light ash fall in some sourrounding areas of the volcano (Florida, Faro and la Mosqueta). 5 minor explosions took place during the past 24 hours, producing eruptinon columns of 0,8-1,2 km height, lasting few minutes and causing very fine ash fall up to 15km distance to the SSE of the volcano.
Read allStrombolian explosions have paused since yesterday, while small quantities of white steam are still being emitted. Two lava flows, about 2-300 m long, are still active and flowing down in parallel channels at the WSW base of the intra-crater cone. Blocks detach from the flow front and arrive at the saddle between Cerro Chino and Pacaya.
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The eruption at Colima volcano is intensifying. More explosions occurred during the past days. Authorities are considering an evacuation of nearby villages.
After no observation was possible for some days due to heavy monsoon rains, it has been confirmed that the eruptino is continuing. Pilots from aircraft have observed small lava fountains and ash plumes.
Volcanic activity continues at Anatahan volcano at moderate levels. The volcano emits ash clouds that rise up to about 4-5 km above sea level, and are drifting westwards extending for more than 500 km, nearly reaching the Philippines. Aircraft are derouted to avoid the potentially dangerous ash cloud.
During 25-31 May, growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continued, accompanied by low rates of seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash. Lava extrusion continued at the N end of the new lava dome, while the high spines continued to crumble. Other parts of the lava dome moved at the relatively low velocity of about 0.3 m per day or remained stagnant. St Helens remained at Volcano Advisory (Alert Level 2); aviation color code Orange.
Read allThe eruption at La Cumbre volcano is coming to an end as it appears from various news sources. On 29 May, 2005, only a weak hot spot was visible from satellite data and only a faint plume was emitted.
