M5.2 Earthquake Rattles Sendai Nuclear Power Plant

B-524R

Earthquake strike 50km SSW of Sendai NPP

The 5.2 magnitude quake struck about 50km south-southwest of the Nuclear Power Plant, and shook the entire island of Kyushu.

EQ Details

M 5.2
31.387°N, 130.600°E [20km S of Kagoshima City, Japan]
16.7 km depth
2017-07-11 02:56:36 UTC

 

Deadly Kyushu Earthquakes – April 16 Update

Aftershocks continue to rock Kyushu

The latest significant aftershocks are listed below:

00:19 JST 17 Apr 2016 00:14 JST 17 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Aso-chiho M4.9 (4)
21:08 JST 16 Apr 2016 21:05 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.5 (4)

16:05 JST 16 Apr 2016 16:02 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.3 (5-)
14:30 JST 16 Apr 2016 14:27 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.5 (4)
14:07 JST 16 Apr 2016 14:03 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Aso-chiho M4.5 (4)
09:51 JST 16 Apr 2016 09:48 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.4 (6-)
09:20 JST 16 Apr 2016 09:16 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.5 (4)
08:23 JST 16 Apr 2016 08:20 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.6 (4)
07:27 JST 16 Apr 2016 07:23 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.8 (5-)
07:14 JST 16 Apr 2016 07:11 JST 16 Apr 2016 Oita-ken Chubu M5.3 (5-)
03:59 JST 16 Apr 2016 03:55 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Aso-chiho M5.8 (6+)

03:09 JST 16 Apr 2016 03:03 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Aso-chiho M5.8 (5+)
02:09 JST 16 Apr 2016 02:04 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.9 (4)
02:03 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:56 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.7 (4)
01:58 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:46 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.0 (6-)
01:47 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:44 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.3 (5-)

USGS has upgraded its casualty and damage estimates for the 7.1Mw event [widely reported as a magnitude 7.3 quake by the local media.]

RED Pager

• Estimated Fatalities: 1,000 – 10,000 [P: 56%]
• Estimated Economic Losses: USD10 – 100 billion  [P:42%]

Official Figures: About 3 dozen fatalities and up to 2,000 injuries reported, including 200 in a serious condition, as of posting.

Extent of reported Damage:

• Scores of homes, buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels and highways have been destroyed or damaged.
• A major, 200-m long bridge has collapsed.
• Major landslides, mudslides and earth movement (up to 97cm) reported.
• About 150mm of rain expected to exacerbate the damage across the disaster area.
• About 100,000 families evacuated.
• Tens of thousands of home s are without power and natural gas.
• Up to 2 million people (400,000 households) are left without water.
• Earthquake-triggered ash-eruptions eruptions reported at Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan.

 

 

 

Powerful Earthquake Rocks Kyushu, S. Honshu, Japan

M7.1 event strikes Kyushu, felt in southern Honshu, Japan

The powerful quake occurred at a depth of 10km about 5km ENE of Kumamoto city.

USGS/EHP has issued a RED Pager for this event:

• Yellow alert level for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible. Estimated fatalities between 10 and 100 with a probability of 57%.
• Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Japan. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response. Damage estimated between USD1 billion and USD10 billion, with a probability of 42%, as of posting.

EQ Details [JMA]
Magnitude: 7.1Mw
Location: 32.8N, 130.8E ( Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho)
Depth: 10 km
Time: 01:25 JST (UTC -9hrs) 16 Apr 2016

Nearby Cities:

• 5.0 km (3.1 mi) ENE of Kumamoto-shi, Japan
• 9.0 km (5.6 mi) SW of Ozu, Japan
• 15.0 km (9.3 mi) SE of Ueki, Japan
• 17.0 km (10.6 mi) NE of Uto, Japan
• 633.0 km (393.3 mi) SE of Seoul, South Korea

The event registered 6+ on Japan’s s seismic intensity scale (1 – 7) at 10 seismic monitoring stations, JMA said.

The quake was immediately followed by three significant aftershocks:

01:50 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:46 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.0 (6-)
01:47 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:44 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.3 (5-)
01:37 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:30 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.4 (4)

• Figures in brackets indicate intensity on Japan Seismic scale (1 – 7).

Earthquake Update – Kyushu, Japan

Aftershocks Plague Kumamoto, Kyushu

Earthquake death toll has been revised down to [at least] 9 by Japanese authorities, while more than 1.3k people have been injured.

About 170 aftershocks of all sizes have been registered as of posting, with the two most significant events detailed below

01:56 JST 15 Apr 2016 01:53 JST 15 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.8 (5-)
00:09 JST 15 Apr 2016 00:03 JST 15 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.4 (6+)

• JST = UTC -9 hrs.
• Figures in brackets indicate intensity on Japan Seismic scale of 1 to 7.

The 6.4-magnitude and its aftershocks have destroyed or severely damaged scores of homes, other buildings, roads and highways.

Part of the walls and roof of Kumamoto castle have been severely damaged.

About 45,000 people fled to designated earthquake shelters.

The quake cut power to more than 12,000 homes and left about 60,000 others without water.

Operations have been suspended at many factories operating in the region including Toyota, Sony, Mitsubishi Electric, Bridgestone, and others.

Japan Earthquake Fatalities, Damage Upgraded by USGS

Deadly Earthquake Strikes Kyushu, Japan

The event occurred at a depth of 10km about 65km east of Nagasaki. It registered a maximum “7” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale at Mashiki-machi Miyazono monitoring station.

USGS/EHP has now upgraded the estimated fatality and damage from the event and its aftershocks, so far, as follows.

RED Pager:

• Yellow alert level for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible. Estimated fatalities between 10 and 100 with a probability of 57%.
• Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Japan. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response. Damage estimated between USD1 billion and USD10 billion, with a probability of 42%, as of posting.

Significant Aftershocks

00:09 JST 15 Apr 2016 00:03 JST 15 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.4  (6+)
23:47 JST 14 Apr 2016 23:43 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.0 (4)
23:32 JST 14 Apr 2016 23:28 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.4 (4)

22:46 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:43 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.3 (4)
22:43 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:38 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.0 (5-)

22:27 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:22 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.6 (4)

22:20 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:16 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.2 (4)
22:15 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:09 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.3 (4)
22:12 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:07 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.7 (6-)

21:58 JST 14 Apr 2016 21:53 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.0 (4)
21:48 JST 14 Apr 2016 21:42 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.9 (4)
21:44 JST 14 Apr 2016 21:37 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M3.9 (4)
21:32 JST 14 Apr 2016 21:26 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.4  (7)

• JST = UTC -9 hrs.
• Figures in brackets indicate intensity on Japan Seismic scale of 1 – 7.

NHK Report

• At least 12 people confirmed dead.
• Dozens injured.
• At least 19 buildings have collapsed.

 

 

 

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Kyushu, Japan

TEN

[CJ Members: EQ Corresponds to April 8 Event]

The quake registered a maximum “7” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale

The quake struck at a depth of 10km about 65km east of Nagasaki. It registered a maximum “7” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale at Mashiki-machi Miyazono monitoring station.

Magnitude: 6.4 [JMA]
Location: 32.7N, 130.8E [Kumamoto-ken/ Kumamoto-chiho]
Date & Time: 14 Apr 2016 at 21:26 JST [12:26 UTC]
Depth: 10 km

USGS Model: Yellow Pager

• Estimated Fatalities: 1
• Possible damage: up to USD100 million (p: 42%)
• Secondary Effects: Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Aftershocks: At least a dozen aftershocks have been reported, as of posting, with the most significant ones measuring 5.7 and 5.0Mw respectively.

Nearby Cities:

89 km S of Fukuoka-shi, Japan [pop: 1,392,289] 21:26:36.2 2016-04-14
11 km W of Kumamoto-shi, [pop: 680,423] – emsc-csem.org

Image Source: JMA

 

Felt reports

Witness location : Shinjuku-ku (Japan) (893 km E from epicenter)
We are on the 21 floor of the Keio Plaza in Toyko. I barely felt it but my wife did not.

Witness location : Seoul (South Korea) (623 km NW from epicenter)
Was lying in bed and started gentle rocking from side to side. Looked at clock and it read 9.26 pm (KST). Went to google and saw a tremor in Japan at the same time. Just wondering is Seoul too far away to be felt?

Witness location : Shimonoseki (Japan) (129 km N from epicenter)
Quake motion was sharp side to side movement for 5 seconds, then slowed down for 3 seconds then much stronger for another 5 seconds. We are located 70 miles north of the epicenter.

Witness location : Shimonoseki (Japan) (129 km N from epicenter)
Quake motion was sharp side to side movement for 5 seconds, then slowed down for 3 seconds then much stronger for another 5 seconds. We are located 70 miles north of the epicenter. [emsc-csem.org]

Police told NHK they had received reports of a dozen people being trapped under collapsed houses.

 

Volcano Eruption Alert: Mt Sakurajima Ejects Large Plume of Ash

Sakurajima ejects  impressive column of ash 5km into the air

The explosive eruption occurred Friday morning producing a large plume of smoke and ash.

Today’s eruption is reportedly the most powerful eruption in recent months.

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan)
Ontake crater
31°35′19″N,  130°39′17″E
Summit Elevation: 1,117 m
Minamidake crater
31°34′38″N, 130°39′32″E
Summit Elevation: 1,060 m

Authorities upgraded the volcanic warning to a “Level 3 (Do not approach the volcano)” on February 5.

One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Sakurajima is located in Kagoshima Bay, southern Kyushu, Japan (about 1,100km WSW of Tokyo). The composite volcano has three peaks: Kitadake, Nakadake and Minamidake (southern peak).

Since 1955 the Minamidake crater, has been continually active. The ongoing activity includes strong strombolian to ash explosions at least once and as many as 8 times a day.

Sendai nuclear power station was built about 50km from the volcano, and despite hundreds of recent eruptions, it was restarted on August 11, 2015.

Sakurajima is a post-caldera cone of the Aira caldera, a gigantic caldera in the southern portion of the island of Kyushu. The caldera was formed by a massive VEI 7 eruption (~ 400km³ of ejecta), about 22,000 years ago, “shortly” after the Oruanui eruption of New Zealand’s Taupo Volcano.

Related Links

• Sakurajima Volcano Explodes February 5, 2016
• Sakurajima Volcano ‘Unhappy’ with Sendai Nuke Restart August 15, 2015

Sakurajima Volcano ‘Unhappy’ with Sendai Nuke Restart

Sakurajima Volcano Warning Raised

Mt Sakurajima volcanic warning level has been raised to Level 4, “prepare to evacuate,” amid signs of increased activity, said Japan’s weather agency.

Mt Sakurajima could have a larger than usual eruption, officials said.

The news follows Tuesday’s restart of a reactor at the Sendai nuclear power station, located less than 50km from the angry volcano.

Volcano Information

One of Japan’s most active volcanoes, Sakurajima is situated in Kagoshima Bay, south of Kyushu, Japan (about 1,000km WSW of Tokyo). The volcano has three active craters: Kitadake, Minamidake and Nakadake.

Multiple eruptions have occurred at Minamidake crater since 1955 .

M5.7 earthquake Strikes Planet of the Abes

Earthquake strikes Kyushu island

Centered at 33.0N, 131.9E the quake struck at a depth of about 60km, said Japan’s weather agency.

The quake registered “5+” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of 1-7.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 5.7Mw
Location: 33.0N, 131.9E
Depth: 60km
Date/Time: 2015-07-12 at 17:52:06 UTC
Aftershocks: 4.3Mw (31.4N, 131.9E; depth=40 km)

Nearby nuclear power stations:

• Ikata Nuclear Power station
• Sendai Nuclear Power station
• Genkai Nuclear Power station

Japan Orders Thousands of Evacuations amid ERE

Severe rainstorm, widespread flooding force thousands of evacuations in S. Japan

About 5,000 people have been ordered to evacuate after an Extreme Rain Event (ERE) triggered severe flooding and in Southern Japan.

Up to 400,000 others were advised to abandon their homes after a severe weather system dumped as much as 31cm of rain over Nagasaki prefecture and 23cm over neighboring Kumamoto prefecture over a 24-hour period, social media quoted officials as saying.

Meantime, the weather agency (JMA) issued extreme weather warnings Thursday for the island of Kyushu, including Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures in the south as well as Kumamoto and Nagasaki prefectures in the north.

Southern Kyushu has also been plagued by hundreds of landslides that have damaged or destroyed homes and blocked roads, according to social media.

Volcano Erupts 160km S. of Sendai Nuke Plant

Japan’s Mt. Shindake erupts prompting highest level alert on Kuchinoerabujima island

Officials are considering evacuation of about 150 residents of the small island of Kuchinoerabujima, reported NHK.

The explosion was followed by a pyroclastic flow of super-heated volcanic matter which swept down the side of the mountain and reached the ocean, NHK said.

It’s unclear whether the eruption and recent earthquakes in the region, or anything short of another direct nuclear catastrophe, would affect the restart of Kyushu Electric’s Sendai nuclear power plant, which the nuclear regulator cleared on Wednesday.

Shindake erupted about 10:00am local time, ejecting a large plume of black smoke and ash into the air, promoting the weather agency to issued a level-five warning for the area, the highest on its scale, and advising evacuations.

The Kuchinoerabujima island [area of 38.04km², population of 149 persons] is located about 160km south of the Sendai nuclear plant, on Japan’s southernmost main island of Kyushu.

EQ Details (recent seismic activity)

• M4.8 quake strikes 10km ESE of Makurazaki, Japan 2015-05-27 at 01:51:25 UTC depth=150.2 km (USGS/EHP)
• M4.5 quake 4km E of Makurazaki, Japan 2015-05-24 at 00:09:38 UTC depth=161.7 km (USGS/EHP)
• M4.0 quake strikes Fukuoka pref. (33.0N, 130.5E) 27 May 2015-05-27 at 16:11 JST (UTC + 9 hrs.)  depth=10 km  (JMA)
• M5.2 quake 24km NNE of Naze (28.573°N 129.567°E), Japan 2015-05-22 at 13:28:49 UTC Depth=35.9 km

Current Volcanic Alerts in the Region (JMA)

• Kuchinoerabujima, Level 5 (Evacuate)   10:07 JST, 29 May 2015
• Sakurajima,  Level 3 Alert ,  since 21 March 2012
• Asosan,  Level 2 Alert (Do not approach the crater) since 30 August 2014
• Kirishimayama (Shinmoedake),  Level 2 Alert,  since 22 October 2013
• Suwanosejima, Level 2  Alert, since 01 December 2007
• Kirishimayama,  volcano is potentially active, since 01 May 2015

Related Links

• Quakes Strike North and South of Sendai Nuclear Power Plant May 27, 2015

 

Sakurajima Ejects Massive Column of Ash

VOLCANIC HAZARD
SCENARIOS 07, 070
.

Volcanic Activity Continues at Japan’s Sakurajima

Sakurajima’s eruption on Friday was the most powerful one at the volcano since last month when the volcano spewed large columns of ash with rivers of lava flowing in the direction of nearby Ibusiki City.

Ash clouds from Mt. Sakurajima explosion reached a height of 4,500 meters,  the second-highest since 1955. A record of 5,000 meters was set in 2013.

Ash fall was reported late Friday evening in areas southeast of the volcano.

One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Sakurajima is located in Kagoshima Bay, southern Kyushu, Japan (about 1,100km WSW of Tokyo). The composite volcano has three peaks: Kitadake, Nakadake and Minamidake (southern peak).

Mt. Sakurajima Eruption on June 6, 2014. Photo credit: Kagoshima Meteorological Observatory

Ongoing Eruptions

Since 1955 the Minamidake crater has been continually active. The ongoing activity includes strong strombolian to ash explosions at least once and as many as 8 times a day.

The volcano was placed under a Level 3 (orange) alert by the Japan Meteorological Agency on March 21, 2012.

Level 3 (orange) alert means the volcano is active (do not approach crater).

A major lava flow in 1914 connected the volcano island  to the Osumi Peninsula on the Kyushu Island.

Related Links

• Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Explosively  May 11, 2014

Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Explosively

VOLCANIC HAZARD
SCENARIOS 07
.

Rivers of of lava and large columns of ash moving in the direction of Ibusiki City

Sakurajima’s eruption on Sunday was the most powerful one at the volcano so far this year.

The explosion ejected a column of ash and smoke to a height of about 4.5km above the Minamidake crater, according to local reports.

One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Sakurajima is located in Kagoshima Bay, southern Kyushu, Japan (about 1,100km WSW of Tokyo). The composite volcano has three peaks: Kitadake, Nakadake and Minamidake (southern peak).

Since 1955 the Minamidake crater has been continually active. The ongoing activity includes strong strombolian to ash explosions at least once and as many as 8 times a day.

The volcano was placed under a Level 3 (orange) alert by the Japan Meteorological Agency on March 21, 2012.

Level 3 (orange) alert means the volcano is active (do not approach crater).

A major lava flow in 1914 connected the volcano island  to the Osumi Peninsula on the Kyushu Island.

There were no immediate report of damage or casualties, as of posting.

DANAS Continues to Wreak Havoc in Japan

TS DANAS Dumping Significant Rains throughout Japan

DANAS weakened to a tropical storm, continues to dump significant amounts of rain on Japan Islands, triggering extensive flooding, numerous flash floods and mudslides.

On Tuesday, while still punching typhoon-strength winds, DANAS caused significant damage to buildings on the Island of Kyushu, tearing rooftops, uprooting trees and utility posts and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes.

Tropical Storm DANAS  (TS 1324)

• Time: 00:00UTC – October 9, 2013
• Position: Near 37°N, 134°E
• Movement ENE 45km/h
• Max winds: 85km/h
• Max gusts: 120km/h
• Source: JMA and others

Tropical Storm DANAS Dumping Significant Rains on Japan. Image: MTSAT-2 via Digital Typhoon, recorded at 00:00UTC on October 9, 2013.

DANAS has also forced hundreds of flight cancellations across Japan, NHK reported.

The storm also caused major disruption to public transport, and ferry services from Kyushu, including “Jet Ferry” between Fukuoka and Busan, South Korea, said the report.

Related Links

• Okinawa Battered by 2nd Typhoon in 24 Hrs  October 7, 2013

Okinawa Battered by 2nd Typhoon in 24 Hrs

Okinawa and Miyako Islands battered by Typhoon FITOW Followed by Typhoon DANAS

FITOW uprooted trees and knocked down utility posts, tearing rooftops and causing blackouts of thousands of homes in Miyakojima city; however, the full extent of damaged caused by Typhoon DANAS was not known, as of posting.

Okinawa Island almost bore the full brunt of Cat 4 Typhoon DANAS, several hours ago.

DANAS is a “heat-seeking,” “custom-made” typhoon in FIRE-EARTH parlance, “designed” to impact the full length of Japan islands, and at this stage of its life it looks fully capable of causing damage comparable only to Hurricane SANDY. We’ll see!

DANAS Details @ 13:00UTC on October 7, 2013

Position: 28.3°N, 127.7°E
Movement: NNW – 330 degrees at 30km/hr
Max Sustained Winds: 230km/hr
Max Wind Gusts: 280km/hr
Max Significant Wave Height: 20m (60 feet)
Category: DANAS is a Cat. 4B on FEWW New Hurricane Scale
Source: FIRE-EARTH, JTWC, JMA and others

DANAS Projected Path. IR Satellite Image recorded at 12:32UTC on October 7, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Typhoon DANAS. VIS/IR Satellite Image recorded at 12:32UTC on October 7, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Location and Impact Forecast

DANAS was near 630 km SSW of Fukuoka, Kyushu, at 13:00UTC on October 7, 2013.

The typhoon is expected to dump as much as 200 mm of rain on Japan’s Amami region and southern Kyushu and 150 mm on Okinawa and northern Kyushu by Tuesday morning, according to local reports.

Related Links

• FITOW Turns Deadly October 7, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Forces Hundreds of Thousands of Evacuations October 6, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Chased by Cyclone DANAS October 5, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Makes Minor Detour October 4, 2013
• Two Cyclones Moving Toward Japan October 1, 2013
• WUTIP Hammers Central Vietnam October 1, 2013
• Typhoon WUTIP Headed for Vietnam, Laos, Thailand September 29, 2013
• USAGI Disaster Update: 25 Dead; 7,100 Homes Destroyed September 23, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008
• Satellite Imagery

45,000 People Urged to Evacuate amid Japan ERE

Extreme Rain Events (ERE) Deluge Shimane Prefecture, W.  Japan

Record 470mm of rain has fallen in parts of Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, since Friday. The city of Gotsu received up to 80mm of rain per hour on Saturday, prompting the country’s weather agency (JMA) to urge tens of thousands of residents in the area to evacuate and “take immediate action to protect life.”

The record rainfall was more than twice the average for the whole of August. The rain is expected to reach 250 mm in a 24-hour period through Sunday in the Chugoku area and northern Kyushu, according to JMA.

Local authorities in Shimane and neighboring Yamaguchi Prefecture have urged more than 45,000 people to evacuate due to fear of landslides and overflowing rivers, said NHK.

The heavy rains have damaged the railroads facilities and toppled several buildings in the area.

“Part of a railway bridge was washed away in Kawamoto Town, Shimane, shutting down a route to neighboring Hiroshima Prefecture,” said NHK.

A nondescript photo posted on the NHK website to show the impact of of the extreme rain events in western Japan.

Some parts of the western Japan should expect about 80mm of rain per hour through Sunday, said JMA.

Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding

Climate related disasters in 2012 could prove costliest in history

FIRE-EARTH estimates the losses and damage from Drought 2012 and other climate-related disasters this year could exceed the combined toll of all ‘natural disasters’ that have occurred in the U.S. since 1980.

Map of U.S. counties declared as agricultural disaster areas under ‘Streamlined Disaster Designation Process,’ as of July 12, 2012

PRIMARY & CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES designated for 2012 crop disaster losses – As of 07/10/2012 – through Designation No. S3260 (Approved 07/03/2012)

Drought conditions have sparked disaster declarations in about 1,300 counties (1,016 primary, 278 contiguous) across the country, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported.

• U.S. drought has been intensified by the driest June in history and triple-digit temperatures on 10 out of 11 days recently.

• As of last week, Moderate to Extreme drought conditions prevailed in 52.56 percent of the Midwest, and 68.39 percent of the South. Moderate to Exceptional drought conditions covered 73.87% of High Plains, 64.15% of the West and 35.46% of the Southeast.

• The declaration covers 26 states across the country: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and Hawaii.

Worsening Drought Conditions

• Missouri.  Worsening drought throughout Missouri has forced Gov. Nixon to ask the federal authorities for disaster declaration for all of the state’s 114 counties with the exception of independent city of St. Louis.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Wednesday a ‘Streamlined Disaster Designation Process’ a USDA rule change for Secretarial disaster designations that will allow nearly automatically a county to be declared a disaster area once it is categorized by the U.S. Drought Monitor as a severe drought for eight consecutive weeks during the growing season.

Drought Map for Missouri as of July 10, 2012. Source: Drought Monitor Archives

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Kyushu, Japan.   Flooding and landslides on the island of Kyushu have left dozens of people dead or missing.
  • At least 250,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, with an additional 150,000 advised to abandon their homes.
  • The evacuation orders affect the entire cities of Miyama, Yame and Yanagawa.
  • The worst affected areas are Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Ōita and Saga prefectures.
  • The city of Aso in Kumamoto prefecture received 754mm  (~ 30 inches) in under 72 hours.
  • Many rivers have burst their banks in the affected areas, unleashing deadly torrents of water, mud and debris throughout the region.

Links to Recent Related Entries

• Disaster Declared in More Counties Across 11 States Posted  July 13, 2012
• U.S. Drought Expands, Intensifies Posted July 12, 2012
• Drought Disaster Declared in 26 States Posted July 12, 2012

• Third of U.S. Corn in Poor or V. Poor Condition Posted on July 11, 2012
• Continental US Experienced Warmest 12 Months in 117 Years Posted  on July 10, 2012
• Drought: State of Emergency Declared in Wisconsin Posted on July 10, 2012
• U.S. Corn Belt Hit by Drought, Heat Wave Posted on July 9, 2012

• Record Heatwave Kills Dozens in U.S. Posted on July 8, 2012
• Drought Disaster Declared in Montana Posted on July 5, 2012
• Colorado Declared Agri Disaster Area Posted on July 4, 2012

• Disaster Declared in 94 Counties across 4 States Posted on July 3, 2012
• Deadly Heat Blankets Eastern U.S. Posted on July 2, 2012
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States and DC as Storm Death Toll Rises Posted  on July 1, 2012
• Deadly Heat Wave Affects Third of U.S. Population Posted on June 30, 2012
• The record-setting heat wave continues to expand Posted on June 30, 2012
• Explosive Wildfires Continue Erupting Across the U.S. Posted on June 29, 2012
• Destructive Wildfire Activity Intensifies in Colorado Posted on June 28, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012

VolcanoWatch Weekly [7 October 2009]

VOW:  Ambrym

Destructive acid rain caused by eruption

According to press reports, an eruption from Benbow Crater occurred on 10 February [1979.]  Gases from the eruption caused acid rainfall on the SW portion of Ambrym Island, destroying most vegetation within 24 hours, contaminating water supplies, and burning some inhabitants. Jean-Luc Saos, Director of Mineral Resources for the New Hebrides government, reported a high concentration of HCl and sulfur compounds in the volcanic gases. Although heavy ashfalls have occurred in the area in the past, this is the first report of acid rains. More …

View of the Marum cone at Ambrym looking SW, 7 June 2007. Incandescence from the active lava lakes can be seen reflected in the clouds (left). Courtesy of Steven Clegg.

Lava lake inside Mbwelesu crater within Marum cone at Ambrym, 7 June 2007. Courtesy of Steven Clegg.

A hazy layer of vog—volcanic fog—overlies Malekula and a few other islands of the Vanuatu archipelago in this natural-color satellite image. The source of the vog is Ambrym, a volcano in the southeast (lower right) corner of this scene. The haze extends over the Coral Sea several hundred kilometers to the northwest. Ambrym emits sulfur dioxide—the gas responsible for the formation of vog— intermittently. (Kilauea Volcano has recently affected the residents of Hawaii with similar vog emissions.)  The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this natural-color image on October 6, 2009. [Large earthquake measuring up to 8.2 Mw struck Vanuatu region  on October 7, 2009 at 22:03 UTC. FEWW] NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The Rapid Response Team provides twice-daily images of this region. Caption by Robert Simmon.

Ash plume from Ambrym Volcano, Vanuatu October 4, 2004, 23:00 UTC.  Source: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response System.

View into the Mbwelesu crater on the Marum cone at Ambrym, captured 7 September 2008. Lava can be seen through two gaps in the crusted-over lava lake (enlarged insets). Courtesy of Arnold Binas.

Ambrym, a large basaltic volcano with a 12-km-wide caldera, is one of the most active volcanoes of the New Hebrides arc. A thick, almost exclusively pyroclastic sequence, initially dacitic, then basaltic, overlies lava flows of a pre-caldera shield volcano. The caldera was formed during a major plinian eruption with dacitic pyroclastic flows about 1900 years ago. Post-caldera eruptions, primarily from Marum and Benbow cones, have partially filled the caldera floor and produced lava flows that ponded on the caldera floor or overflowed through gaps in the caldera rim. Post-caldera eruptions have also formed a series of scoria cones and maars along a fissure system oriented ENE-WSW. Eruptions have apparently occurred almost yearly during historical time from cones within the caldera or from flank vents. However, from 1850 to 1950, reporting was mostly limited to extra-caldera eruptions that would have affected local populations. Caption: GVP

Ambtym
Country: Vanuatu
Subregion Name: Vanuatu
Volcano Number: 0507-04=
Volcano Type: Pyroclastic shield
Volcano Status: Historical
Last Known Eruption: 2009
Summit Elevation: 1334 m 4,377 feet
Latitude: 16.25°S 16°15’0″S
Longitude: 168.12°E 168°7’0″E

SI /USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
(30 September – 6 October 2009)

New activity/Unrest:

• Chaitén, Southern Chile
• Cleveland, Chuginadak Island
• Galeras, Colombia
• Gaua, Banks Islands (SW Pacific)
• Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
• Kliuchevskoi, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
• Sakura-jima, Kyushu
• Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
• Soufrière Hills, Montserrat

News From GVP:

On 29 September, people living in Chaitén town, 10 km SW of Chaitén’s Domo Nuevo 1 (Phase I) and Domo Nuevo 2 (Phase II) lava-dome complex, noticed that the eruption column was larger. Scientists conducted an overflight and saw a third lava dome (Phase III) in the SW area of the complex, which had filled up a depression left by a collapse on 19 February.

According to news articles from 2 October, increased seismicity at Gaua was detected during the previous two weeks. Villagers living nearby reported ashfall and sulfur odors.

An explosive eruption from Galeras on 30 September prompted INGEOMINAS to raise the Alert Level. An ash plume rose to an approximate altitude of 12.3 km (40,400 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E, then N. —GVP

Ongoing Activity:

• Batu Tara, Komba Island (Indonesia)
• Dukono, Halmahera
• Kilauea, Hawaii
• Langila, New Britain
• Popocatépetl, México
• Rabaul, New Britain
• Reventador, Ecuador
• Sangay, Ecuador
• Suwanose-jima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)

Related Links:

• Messages From Earth’s Powerhouse
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 19 March 2009

• A New Era of Intense Volcanic Unrest May Have Begun
• Tonga’s Metis Shoal may be erupting
• Rumble III Volcano “blew its top!”
• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes

FEWW Volcanic Activity Forecast

• Sumatra’s Mt Kerinci Erupts

• Sumatra’s Mt Kerinci Erupts
• Volcano Watch Weekly: 23 April 2009

• Weekly Volcano Watch: 16 April 2009
• Weekly Volcano Watch: 2 April 2009

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Other Related Links:

• U.S. Volcano Status Map
• Elevated Activity Page
• U.S. Volcano Webcams

Recent Posts on Chaitén:

• Chaitén: A New Phase of Activity?
• Chaitén Still Awake!
• Chaitén: Volcano with a Mission?
• Chaitén: Volcano that Doesn’t Sleep