Fire Earth

Earth is fighting to stay alive. Mass dieoffs, triggered by anthropogenic assault and fallout of planetary defense systems offsetting the impact, could begin anytime!

Posts Tagged ‘Pasto’

Galeras volcano erupts, 8,000 evacuated

Posted by feww on January 3, 2010

Galeras volcano on  the Colombia border with Ecuador erupted Saturday

The tephra eruption prompted authorities to evacuated the usual 8,000 residents from the hazard zones near the volcano.


Galeras volcano photo taken during an episode of unrest on December 12, 2009. Credit: Ingeominas


Galeras seen in this aerial photo (Undated). Source: Alaska Earthquake Information center. Image may be subject to copyright.

Currently the most active volcano in Colombia, the 4,276-meter-high volcano’s first historical eruption occurred on December 7, 1580. The volcano resumed activity in 1988 after 10 years of dormancy. It erupted in 1993, killing nine people, three tourists and six scientists who had descended into the volcano’s crater to conduct tests.

There were no reported casualties after Saturday eruption.

In June 2009 FEWW forecast that

Galeras could erupt continually throughout 2009  and most of 2010

AND it hasn’t disappointed yet!

Eight of Colombia’s 15 volcanoes have erupted in the last 100 years, and three of them since 1990: Galeras, Nevado del Huila, and Nevado del Ruiz.

An explosive eruption ruptured the summit of Nevado del Ruiz on November 13, 1985, spewing about 20 million cubic meters of volcanic ash and rocks into the air. Forty-meter thick lahars traveling at velocities of up to 50 kilometers per hour destroyed the town of Armero 74 km away from the explosion crater, killing more than 23,000 people. [Source: USGS]

Galeras activity in 2009

  • 14 February 19:11 an eruption spewed ash SO2 and other and volcanic gases. (Red Alert, Level I). [Pasto was covered in ash, 8,000 people evacuated.]
  • 20 February 07:05 spewed ashes. (Red Alert,  Level I).
  • 12 March 19:30, and 13 March 15:55 explosions were recorded (Orange Alert, Level II ).
  • 13 March 15:55, eruption occurred spewing gas and hot ashes at 16:34 further emission was recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 24 April 07:32, two explosions were recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 29 April monitors recorded increase in seismic activity. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 11 May 11:58, tectonic venting. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 17 May 21:40, seismic activity recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 11 December 2001 Galeras Alert Level Raised to “Orange”

For other episodes see:

For more information see:

Related Links:

Posted in Colombia volcanoes, Galeras activity, Galeras Erupts, Galeras Volcano, volcano | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Galeras Alert Level Raised to “Orange”

Posted by feww on December 11, 2009

Galeras Volcano Could Erupt Anytime!

Colombia’s Galeras activity has intensified signifying an eruption may be imminent—INGEOMINAS


Galeras seen in this aerial photo (Undated). Source: Alaska Earthquake Information center. Image may be subject to copyright.

In June this year FEWW Forecast:

Galeras could erupt continually throughout 2009  and most of 2010 AND it hasn’t disappointed yet!

The Colombian Institute of Mining and Geology (INGEOMINAS), raised alert level Thursday to ‘Orange’ in the area near Galeras volcano, expecting it to erupt soon.

INGEOMINAS said Galeras activity has intensified signifying an eruption may be imminent within days or weeks. Adding that the volcano was showing recurrent episodes of intense seismic activity.

The authorities have evacuated about 8,000 residents from the hazard zones near the volcano.

In June 2009 Galeras volcano erupted twice in 24 hours , covering nearby villages in a blanket of volcanic ash.

Although the first eruption on Sunday June 7, 2009 caused no damage, the authorities ordered 8,000 residents to evacuate the surrounding villages.

The second explosion on Monday was the 8th eruption this year to shake the volcano, which is located in the Colombian department of Nariño near the town of  Pasto, and close to the Ecuadorean border.

Currently the most active volcano in Colombia, the 4,276-meter-high volcano’s first historical eruption occurred on December 7, 1580. The volcano resumed activity in 1988 after 10 years of dormancy. It erupted in 1993, killing nine people, three tourists and six scientists who had descended into the volcano’s crater to conduct tests.

galeras from Pasto stan williams
Galeras from Pasto (1993?). Photo by Stan Williams. Image may be subject to copyright.

Eight of Colombia’s 15 volcanoes have erupted in the last 100 years, and three of them since 1990: Galeras, Nevado del Huila, and Nevado del Ruiz.

An explosive eruption ruptured the summit of Nevado del Ruiz on November 13, 1985, spewing about 20 million cubic meters of volcanic ash and rocks into the air. Forty-meter thick lahars traveling at velocities of up to 50 kilometers per hour destroyed the town of Armero 74 km away from the explosion crater, killing more than 23,000 people. [Source: USGS]

Galeras activity in 2009

  • 14 February 19:11 an eruption spewed ash SO2 and other and volcanic gases. (Red Alert, Level I). [Pasto was covered in ash, 8,000 people evacuated.]
  • 20 February 07:05 spewed ashes. (Red Alert,  Level I).
  • 12 March 19:30, and 13 March 15:55 explosions were recorded (Orange Alert, Level II ).
  • 13 March 15:55, eruption occurred spewing gas and hot ashes at 16:34 further emission was recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 24 April 07:32, two explosions were recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 29 April monitors recorded increase in seismic activity. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 11 May 11:58, tectonic venting. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 17 May 21:40, seismic activity recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).

For other episodes see:

Related Links:

Posted in Explosive Eruption, volcanism, volcano, volcano eruption, Volcano Hazard | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Galeras Volcano Erupts Twice in 24 Hrs

Posted by feww on June 9, 2009

NO Early Rest for Furious Galeras!

Galeras could erupt continually throughout 2009  and most of 2010 [FEWW]

Colombia’s Galeras volcano erupted twice in 24 hours, covering nearby villages in a blanket of volcanic ash.


Galeras Volcano. Photo source: Colombia Report. Image may be subject  to copyright.


Galeras seen in this aerial photo (Undated). Source: Alaska Earthquake Information center. Image may be subject to copyright.

“An eruption of explosive nature has been registered,” the national geological institute Ingeominas said.

Although the earlier eruption on Sunday caused no damage, the authorities ordered 8,000 residents to evacuate the surrounding villages.

The second explosion on Monday was the 8th eruption one this year to shake the volcano, which is located in the Colombian department of Nariño near the town of  Pasto, and close to the Ecuadorean border.

Currently the most active volcano in Colombia, the 4,276-meter-high volcano’s first historical eruption occurred on December 7, 1580. The volcano resumed activity in 1988 after 10 years of dormancy. It erupted in 1993, killing nine people, three tourists and six scientists who had descended into the volcano’s crater to conduct tests.

galeras from Pasto stan williams
Galeras from Pasto (1993?). Photo by Stan Williams. Image may be subject to copyright.

Galeras activity in 2009

  • 14 February 19:11 an eruption spewed ash SO2 and other and volcanic gases. (Red Alert, Level I). [Pasto was covered in ash, 8,000 people evacuated.]
  • 20 February 07:05 spewed ashes. (Red Alert,  Level I).
  • 12 March 19:30, and 13 March 15:55 explosions were recorded (Orange Alert, Level II ).
  • 13 March 15:55, eruption occurred spewing gas and hot ashes at 16:34 further emission was recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 24 April 07:32, two explosions were recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 29 April monitors recorded increase in seismic activity. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 11 May 11:58, tectonic venting. (Orange Alert, Level II).
  • 17 May 21:40, seismic activity recorded. (Orange Alert, Level II).

Eight of Colombia’s 15 volcanoes have erupted in the last 100 years, and three of them since 1990: Galeras, Nevado del Huila, and Nevado del Ruiz.

An explosive eruption ruptured the summit of Nevado del Ruiz on November 13, 1985, spewing about 20 million cubic meters of volcanic ash and rocks into the air. Forty-meter thick lahars traveling at velocities of up to 50 kilometers per hour destroyed the town of Armero 74 km away from the explosion crater, killing more than 23,000 people. [Source: USGS]

Related Links:

Posted in Explosive Eruption, Nevado del Huila, Nevado del Ruiz, volcanism, volcanoes | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Galeras Erupts Again!

Posted by feww on February 15, 2009

Galeras forceful eruption prompts evacuation

Galeras, a stratovolcano, located near the regional capital city of Pasto in southwest Colombia and close to the border with Ecuador, erupted again on Saturday, prompting the authorities to issue a “red alert” for the area. An evacuation order was issued for about 8,000 people who live in the vicinity of the volcano.


Galeras, seen from the city of Pasto.  Credit: Henry Ernesto Escobar Meneses

The Colombia Institute for Geology and Mines said the blast occurred at about 12:10 UTC Sunday. No fatalities or injuries were reported.

According to the local government  “large amount of ash” was falling on Pasto.

The 4,270-meter volcano has been an active volcano for about a million years and is considered the most active volcano in Colombia. In 1991 it was designated a Decade Volcano due to its proximity to the city of Pasto.


Galeras is seen here from the south on March 17, 1989, with steam clouds pouring from vents on the large central cone near the back headwall of the caldera, whose south rim forms the ridge in the foreground. Major explosive eruptions since the mid Holocene have produced widespread tephra deposits and pyroclastic flows that swept all but the southern flanks.  Photo by Norm Banks (U.S. Geological Survey). Caption: GVP.

On January 14, 1993, during a Decade Volcano conference in Pasto, a group of unfortunate scientists launched an impromptu expedition to the volcano’s crater. Shortly after their arrival, Galeras erupted killing six scientists and three others.

In the 20th century Galeras underwent several episodes of unrest including those in December of 1923, October of 1924, October of 1932, February of 1936, July of 1947, January of 1950, February 1974, February of 1989, January of 1990, January of 1993, March of 2000, June of 2002, July of 2004, November of 2005, October of 2007, and several episodes in 2008 and 2009.

UPDATE: February 20, 2009


Authorities in the south of Colombia are on high alert after the Galeras volcano Friday erupted again. Colombia Reports. Image may be subject to copyright.

Related Links:

Words: 300; images: 2; links: 2

Posted in Complex volcano, Decade Volcano, ecuador, Holocene, Urcunina | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »