Significant Aftershocks Continue to Rattle Chile Coast

M6.2 aftershock latest to strike coastal Chile

Centered at 32.334°S, 72.091°W the aftershock occurred at a depth 10.6 km, reported USGS/EHP.

More than 100 aftershocks measuring ≥4.5Mw have occurred since an 8.3Mw earthquake struck coastal Chile on September 16.

Significant Aftershocks

M6.2, 82km W of La Ligua, Chile 2015-09-19 12:52:19 UTC 10.6 km
M6.1, 69km SW of Ovalle, Chile 2015-09-19 09:07:08 UTC 23.2 km
M6.3, 90km NW of Valparaiso, Chile 2015-09-18 09:10:44 UTC 8.7 km
M6.7, 53km W of Illapel, Chile 2015-09-17 04:10:30 UTC 30.1 km
M6.5, 54km S of Ovalle, Chile 2015-09-17 03:55:06 UTC 35.0 km
M6.4, 64km NW of Illapel, Chile 2015-09-17 01:41:09 UTC 35.0 km
M7.0, 25km W of Illapel, Chile 2015-09-16 23:18:42 UTC 30.9 km
M6.2, 70km W of Illapel, Chile 2015-09-16 23:16:05 UTC 10.0 km
M6.1, 44km WSW of Illapel, Chile 2015-09-16 23:03:56 UTC 10.0 km
M6.4, 58km W of Illapel, Chile 2015-09-16 22:59:13 UTC 22.0 km
M8.3, 46km W of Illapel, Chile 2015-09-16 22:54:33 UTC 25.0km

Hundreds of Bags Containing Fukushima Radioactive Waste Swept Away by Severe Floods

Floods submerge seven radioactive waste storage sites for Fukushima meltdowns

Seven storage sites holding radioactive waste from Fukushima triple meltdowns were submerged by torrential rain in eastern Japan on Sept. 11, according to local reports.

“The temporary storage sites, located in Kawamata, Naraha and other municipalities near the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, store soil, grass and other radiation-tainted waste generated by decontamination work due to the 2011 triple meltdown,” said Asahi Shimbun.

Floodwater washed away 82 bags containing radioactive waste, said the Environment Ministry on Friday, local media reported.

Additionally, at least 341 waste bags containing radioactive substances from Fukushima nuclear decontamination work have been swept into local rivers, the Nikko Municipal Government has announced.

Seventeen of the bags, each with a capacity of 1 cubic meter, were recovered empty. The contaminated soil and weeds inside the bags had been lost, said Nikko city officials.

Last week, more than 400 bags containing radioactive waste were washed away from the village of Iitate, said local media. Some 171 bags were later retrieved.

The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, contaminated rainwater from the drainage system that encircles the reactor buildings spilled into the ocean on Sept. 9 and Sept. 11, said.

“Due to typhoon no.18 (Etau), heavy rain caused Fukushima Daiichi K drainage rainwater to overflow to the sea, on September 9th and 11th,” said Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO).

VolcanoWatch – September 19, 2015

Global Volcanism – Latest and Ongoing Activity

Latest Eruptions

• Cotopaxi, Ecuador
• Mt Aso, Kyushu, Japan
• Nevado del Ruiz,  Colombia

US Volcanoes

Cleveland Watch Orange 2015-09-18

• Low level unrest continues. No significant activity detected in seismic or infrasound (pressure sensor) data. Minor steaming observed in web camera images and slightly elevated surface temperatures detected in satellite data during periods of clear weather over the past week.  Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)

Kilauea Watch Orange 2015-09-18

• The lava lake at Kīlauea’s summit remains active. At the East Rift Zone, the lava flow northeast of Puʻu ʻŌʻō remains active within 8 km (5 mi) of the vent and does not currently pose a threat to communities. Normal levels of seismic and deformation activity continue across the volcano.
• Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: The multiple vents within Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater continued to outgas and glow at night. The sulfur dioxide emission rate from all East Rift Zone vents was about 400 metric tons per day when measurements were last possible on August 13, 2015. A magnitude 3.8 earthquake that occurred at about 8 km (5 mi) depth SSE of Puʻu ʻŌʻō yesterday afternoon was widely felt on the island. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)

Shishaldin Watch Orange 2015-09-18

• Low-level activity within the summit crater of Shishaldin likely continues. Seismicity remains slightly above background levels but no activity observed in satellite data and web camera images during periods of clear weather over the past week. AVO
  

Mauna Loa Advisory Yellow 2015-09-17

• HVO seismic stations continue to record elevated rates of shallow, small-magnitude earthquakes beneath Mauna Loa’s summit, upper Southwest Rift Zone, and west flank.

Pagan Advisory Yellow 2015-09-18 [Northern Mariana Islands]

• Seismic, infrasound, and web camera data from Pagan Volcano remain temporarily unavailable. No activity observed in satellite images during periods of clear weather over the past week. Volcanic gas from Pagan may be noticed downwind of the volcano as a distinctive sulfurous odor.

Ongoing Activity

Kamchatka & Kurile Volcanoes (Russia)

• Karymsky: Eastern Kamchatka, Russia – Orange
  Moderate eruptive activity of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 19,700 ft (6 km) a.s.l. could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect low-flying aircraft.
  http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc.php?lang=en&name=Karymsky
• Sheveluch: Central Kamchatka, Russia – Orange
  Explosive-extrusive eruption of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 32,800 ft (10 km) a.s.l. could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft. http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/kvert/volc.php?lang=en&name=Sheveluch
• Bezymianny Yellow
• Klyuchevskoy Yellow

Other Volcanoes

• Batu Tara: Komba Island, Indonesia
• Mt Dempo: South Sumatra, Indonesia
• Dukono: Halmahera, Indonesia
• Karangetang: Siau Island, Indonesia
• Sinabung: North Sumatra, Indonesia

• Colima: Mexico

• Otake (Suwanosejima): Ryukyu Islands, Japan