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Popocatépetl eruption sends 2-km high column of smoke and ash into air
Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano erupted on Sunday (July 2), ejecting 2-km high column of smoke and ash into air, officials said.
Ash fallout was reported across multiple areas in Mexico State, including Ozumba, Amecameca, Tlalmanalco, Chalco, Ayapango, Tenango del Aire and San Pedro Nexapa.
Alert level for the volcano was raise to “Yellow,” which means it could continue to erupt at low to intermediate intensity, as authorities advised nearby residents to evacuate areas within a 12km.
Italy’s supervolcano at “critical stage” of eruption: “volcanic activity might be imminent”
Campi Flegrei, Italy’s only supervolcano, could erupt sooner than previously predicted, researchers say, immediately affecting more than three million people who live in the Naples area.
The volcano last erupted in 1538 but it has been restless since 1950, with local seismicity and ground uplift recorded in the 1950s, 1970s and 1980s, similar to a 100-year long episode that lead to the last eruption.
More than 26,000 micro-earthquakes, or volcano-tectonic (VT) events, have occurred across the central zone of the caldera during the current unrest, researchers say.
“The current unrest is consistent with a reactivation of the magmatic system after 412 years and, hence, with an increase in the threat from volcanic activity to the caldera’s population of almost 360,000 people, as well as to the three million residents of Naples immediately outside its eastern margin.”
Ground movements of about 3m, the largest recorded since Roman times, have occurred since 1950.
“At Campi Flegrei itself, an additional obstacle to effective warning is a low public awareness of volcanic hazard compared with the perceived threat from microseismicity. The persistent VT seismicity in 1983–1984 damaged buildings throughout Pozzuoli and triggered the evacuation of some 40,000 people.”
Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 9:10 AM HST (Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 19:10 UTC)
KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25’16” N, 155°17’13” W, Summit Elevation 4,091 ft (1,247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Activity Summary: Kīlauea Volcano continues to erupt at its summit and at the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent on its East Rift Zone. The episode 61g lava flow from Puʻu ʻŌʻō is entering the ocean at Kamokuna and is feeding surface flows on and above the pali. These lava flows pose no threat to nearby communities at this time. The summit deflationary trend of the past 2 days reversed early this morning to an inflationary trend. The lava lake was about 34 m (~112 ft) below the Overlook crater rim this morning. Seismicity in the upper East Rift Zone did not change significantly in the past day.
Summit Observations: Tiltmeters at Kīlauea’s summit began recording an inflationary tilt early this morning, reversing the deflationary trend of the past 2 days. The lava lake was measured this morning at about 34 m (~112 ft) below the Overlook crater. Webcam views of the lava lake can be found at this webpage: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/cams/region_kism.php. Summit tremor continues to fluctuate in response to variations in lava lake spattering. Average daily summit sulfur dioxide emission rates were between about 6,600 and 1,900 metric tons/day during the last week in February, the most recent time when conditions permitted measurements. Seismicity in the upper East Rift Zone has returned to typical levels over the past couple of days, with just a few small earthquakes.
Puʻu ʻŌʻō Observations: Webcam images over the past 24 hours show persistent glow at long-term sources at Puʻu ʻŌʻō, including the pit on the west side of the crater that holds a small lava pond. There were no significant changes in East Rift Zone seismicity over the past 24 hours. The tiltmeter at Puʻu ʻŌʻō recorded deflationary tilt over the past day. The sulfur dioxide emission rate from all East Rift Zone vents was about 250 metric tons/day when last measured on February 22, 2017.https://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php
Pāhoehoe lava from Kilauea Volcano
Pāhoehoe lava inches towards the ocean in Hawai‘i Volcanoes NP, 3/2/17 Photo/Janice Wei.
Klyuchevskoy ejects column of ash 6-8 kilometers a.s.l.
The latest eruption, detected Tuesday morning, saw the ash column rising 6-8 kilometers into the air. The plume stretched for 47 kilometers to the west of the volcano, Russia’s Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS (KVERT) reported.
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Current State: Ash plume extended 47 km to the west from the volcano.
Danger Prognosis for Aviation: Explosive eruption of the volcano continues. Ash explosions up to 19,700-26,240 ft (6-8 km) a.s.l. could occur at any time. Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.
Volcanic cloud height: 16400-19680 ft (5000-6000 m) AMSL Time and method of ash plume/cloud height determination: 20160613/2209Z – Video data
Other volcanic cloud information: Distance of ash plume/cloud of the volcano: 29 mi (47 km)
Direction of drift of ash plume/cloud of the volcano: W / azimuth 274 deg
Time and method of ash plume/cloud determination: 20160613/2129Z – NOAA 18 (4m5)
The 4,750m volcano in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula has been continuously active for the past five decades, with the number of tremors and ash eruptions notably rising recently.
New eruptions, ongoing activity, unrest and abnormalities reported in at least 66 volcanoes globally over the last seven days…
Latest Global Volcanic Activity
Awu Sangihe Islands (Indonesia)
Etna Sicily (Italy)
Fuego (Guatemala)
Ruapehu North Island (New Zealand)
Santa Maria – Santiaguito Dome Complex (Guatemala)
Sinabung – North Sumatra (Indonesia)
Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog. Click image to enlarge.
Cleveland Volcano
Landsat-8 data from 15 May 2015 at 22:17 UTC (2:17 PM AKDT) show robust steaming and high temperatures in Cleveland Volcano’s summit crater (in the shortwave IR), indicating continued unrest. The high-temperature feature is visible in this image as a red pixel. Robust steaming observed extending to the west and seen as a shadow on the lower meteorological cloud deck. Shortwave IR has very little reflectance from snow, which is why Cleveland appears blue. Photographer/Creator: D. Schneider – URL: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/image.php?id=95451
Landsat-8 true color composite from Cleveland Volcano,15 May 2016, 22:17 UTC (2:17 pm AKDT), sharpened with panchromatic data. Robust steaming observed extending to the west and seen as a shadow on the lower meteorological cloud deck. Photographer/Creator: D. Schneider http://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/image.php?id=95461
Ongoing Activity
Aira Kyushu (Japan)
Alaid Kuril Islands (Russia)
Chirpoi Kuril Islands (Russia)
Cleveland Chuginadak Island (USA)
Colima Mexico
Cotopaxi Ecuador
Dukono Halmahera (Indonesia)
Kilauea Hawaiian Islands (USA)
Klyuchevskoy C. Kamchatka (Russia)
Kuchinoerabujima Kyushu (Japan)
Langila New Britian (PNG)
Masaya Nicaragua
Nevado del Ruiz Colombia
Pavlof Alaska (USA)
Sangay Ecuador
Sheveluch C. Kamchatka (Russia)
Sinabung Indonesia
Telica Nicaragua
Turrialba Costa Rica
Current Status of Indonesian Volcanoes [Badan Geologi]
Orange Alerts
Nishinoshima Japan region
Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba Japan region
Sakurajima Kyushu (Japan)
Yellow Alerts
Asamayama Japan
Aso Kyushu (Japan)
Bezymianny Kamchatka (Russia)
Copahue Chile
Karymsky Kamchatka (Russia)
Kirishimayama (Shinmoedake) Kyushu (Japan)
Kusatsu-Shirane Japan
Mauna Loa Hawaii
Ontake Japan
Planchón-Peteroa Volcanic Complex Chile
Snow Kuril Islands (Russia)
Zhupanovsky Kamchatka (Russia)
Abnormalities Observed
Bulusan Philippines
Kanlaon Philippines
Taal Philippines
MAUNA LOA: The largest active volcano on Earth!
HVO Weekly Update: Thursday, May 19, 2016 20:47 UTC – Seismicity remains elevated above the long-term background level, but no significant changes were recorded over the past week. Deformation related to inflation of a magma reservoir beneath the summit and upper Southwest Rift Zone continues, with inflation recently occurring mainly in the southwestern part of the magma storage complex.
BULUSAN VOLCANO BULLETIN 22 May 2016 8:00 A.M. [Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, PHIVOLCS]
Bulusan Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded three (3) volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. Weak emission of white steam plumes that crept downslope towards southwest was observed coming from the active vents. Precise leveling survey results from April 27 to May 5, 2016 indicated slight deflationary changes of the edifice relative to February 2016, consistent with the measurements from continuous GPS data as of 30 April 2016.
Alert Level 1 (abnormal) remains in effect over Bulusan Volcano. This indicates that hydrothermal processes are underway beneath the volcano that may lead to steam-driven eruptions. The local government units and the public are reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. Furthermore, people living within valleys and along river or stream channels especially on the southwest and northwest sector of the edifice should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall. DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring Bulusan Volcano’s condition and any new development will be relayed to all concerned.
KANLAON VOLCANO BULLETIN 22 May 2016 8:00 A.M. [PHIVOLCS]
Kanlaon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded one (1) volcanic earthquake during the past 24 hours. Moderate emission of white steam plumes that rose up to 300 meters and drifted southwest and northwest was observed. Ground deformation measurements from continuous GPS data as of 30 April 2016 indicated slight inflation of the Kanlaon edifice since December 2015.
Alert Level 1 status remains in effect over Kanlaon Volcano, which means that it is currently in a state of unrest probably driven by hydrothermal processes that could generate more minor eruptions. The local government units and the public are reminded that entry into the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or minor ash eruptions. Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as airborne ash from a sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft. DOST-PHIVOLCS is closely monitoring Kanlaon Volcano’s activity and any new development will be relayed to all concerned.
TAAL VOLCANO BULLETIN 22 May 2016 8:00 A.M. [PHIVOLCS]
Taal Volcano’s seismic monitoring network recorded two (2) volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. Field measurements conducted on 19 May 2016 at the western sector of the Main Crater Lake yielded a slight increase in water temperature from 32.9°C to 33.0°C, a decrease in water level from 0.19 meter to 0.18 meter, and an increase in water acidity from pH 3.03 to 2.73. Precise leveling survey results from 28 March to 8 April 2016 indicated slight deflation of the edifice compared to November 2015 survey. Results from continuous GPS data as of 30 April 2016 showed deflationary trend since January 2016, however the edifice remains inflated relative to the 2014 baseline level.
Alert Level 1 remains in effect over Taal Volcano. This means that hazardous eruption is not imminent. The public, however, is reminded that the Main Crater should be strictly off-limits because sudden steam explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate. The northern portion of the Main Crater rim, in the vicinity of Daang Kastila Trail, may also become hazardous when steam emission along existing fissures suddenly increases. Furthermore, the public is also reminded that the entire Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and permanent settlement in the island is strongly not recommended.
Nicaragua [INETER]
Telica: Intense levels of micro-seismicity and low gas emissions reported.
Masaya: Moderate tecto-volcanic tremors continue, representing MARS values of between 300 and 700units. Lava lake observed in theSantiagocrater.
Momotombo: “Low-level seismicity, with moderate gas emissions reported. “The real-time seismic amplitude (MARS) is lower than 60 units.”
San Cristobal: Low-level seismicity, with moderate gas emissions observed on May 19, 2016.
The eruption follows reports of volcanic tremors starting five days ago.
“On May 17th we witnessed an increase in the amplitude of volcanic tremors and recorded intense degassing accompanied by occasional, weak emissions from the northeastern crater,” the Catania branch of Italy’s National Volcanology and Geophysics Institute said in a statement.
Etna lies above the convergent plate margin between the African and the Eurasian Plates, making it one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, and currently stands 3,330m high. The volcano covers an area of 1,190km² with a basal circumference of 140km.
One of the 16 Decade Volcanoes, Mt Etna is in an almost constant state of activity.
Superheated pyroclastic flows roar down Sinabung flanks, killing or injuring villagers in Sumatra
At least a dozen people were killed or seriously injured after Sinabung erupted on Saturday, ejecting large clouds of smoke and ash about 3km into the air, as an avalanche of superheated pyroclastic flows descended down the mountain inundating the village of Gamber.
The victims are thought to be local villagers farming within the 4-kilomere exclusion zone when they were consumed by pyroclastic clouds.
Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra. ANTARA PHOTO/Rony Muharrman/ (Image may be subject to copyright.)
“People and visitors/tourists are not allowed to conduct any activity within a radius of three kilometers from the mountains top. People living in the south and southeast sector are also prohibited to get as near as seven kilometers from the mountains top while those in north and northeast sectors are prohibited to get as near as four kilometers from the mountains top,” said an official at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
About 60,000 people have been displaced since Sinabung volcano awoke in 2013 after a period of dormancy.
Indonesia has 129 active volcanoes, of which at least 79 have erupted since the 1600s. Some 66 volcanoes are continuously monitored from 76 observatories.
Hell Hath No Fury Like the Primed Costa Rica Volcano!
The powerful explosion, said to be the volcano’s most powerful eruption in 6 years, ejected a thick column of ass and smoke more than 3km into the air.
Hundreds of people have inundated the local hospitals, complaining of breathing difficulties and skin burns, as multiple layers of ash covered the buildings and roads, and a strong stench of sulfur filled the air.
The 3,343-meter Turrialba Volcano, located in central Costa Rica, about 45km east of the capital, San Jose, began activity on Wednesday with the first wave of eruptions occurring on Friday, officials said.
Turrialba has been quiescent since a series of explosive eruptions during the 19th century that were sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows. Photo by Federico Chavarria Kopper, 1999. Caption: GVP.
Santa Maria volcano explodes at Santiaguito Dome Complex, sending a column of ash about 4,500 meters into the air. (Photo Credit: Prensa Libre/Carlos Ventura)
The 3,771-meter high Santa Maria, is a massive active volcano located in the western highlands of Guatemala.
The VEI 6 eruption of Santa Maria in 1902 was the third largest eruption of the 20th century, following the 1912 Novarupta and 1991 Pinatubo eruptions.
Volcano of Fire: The volcano that never sleeps
The ash column from eruption at Volcán de Fuego [the “Volcano of Fire”] reached a height of about 5,500 meters above sea level, with “moderate” lava flow from the summit.
The volcano that never sleeps. A new round of activity began at Volcán de Fuego, exactly four years ago on May 19, 2012. Photo credit: Ana Patricia Orizaba
Volcanologists at the University of Costa Rica have reported a large explosion at Turrialba Volcano, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday local time.
The powerful eruption ejected ash to a height of about 3 kilometers above the volcano’s summit, according to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI).
“It was a single explosion but a really strong one. This means that there was high pressure inside the volcano,” said a volcanologist at OVSICORI.
The ashfall forced the closure of Tobías Bolaños Airport, in western San José, local media reported.
The 3,340-meter-high volcano is located about 65km northeast of the capital, San Jose.
In October 2014, authorities in Costa Rica evacuated nearby residents after Turrialba’s largest eruption in 148 years. Large areas of San Jose, La Union, Cartago, Santo Domingo and Heredia provinces, located as far as 50km from the crater, reported volcanic ash and strong sulfur odors.
Camera located in the craterof theTurrialbavolcano, about 600 meters eastof the active crater(looking west). The imageis refreshed every10 seconds. Source: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional.
The latest eruption forced the authorities to close Puebla airport, located east of the volcano, urging residents to wear masks and avoid inhaling volcanic ash.
About 25 million people live within a 100-kilometer radius of the active volcano.
Popocatépetl Volcano (“smoking mountain” in Aztec) is North America’s 2nd-highest volcano. The massive stratovolcano stands 5,450m high and lies about 65 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Mexico City (19.023°N, 98.622°W) in the eastern segment of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt.
Latest Volcanic Eruptions/ Recent Activity [AZ]
Aso (Kyushu, Japan)
Cleveland (Alaska)
Kerinci (Indonesia)
Klyuchevskoy (C. Kamchatka, Russia)
Langila (New Britain – PNG)
Pavlof (Alaska)
Popocatepetl (Mexico)
Sangay (Ecuador)
Villarrica (Chile)
Ongoing Activity
Aira Kyushu (Japan)
Alaid (Kuril Islands, Russia)
Chirpoi (Kuril Islands, Russia)
Colima (Mexico)
Dukono (Halmahera, Indonesia)
Fuego (Guatemala)
Karymsky (E. Kamchatka,Russia)
Kilauea (Hawaii)
Masaya (Nicaragua)
Momotombo (Nicaragua)
Sheveluch (C. Kamchatka, Russia)
Sinabung (Indonesia)
Soputan (Sulawesi, Indonesia)
Telica (Nicaragua)
Tengger Caldera (E. Java, Indonesia)
Zhupanovsky (E. Kamchatka, Russia)
[Sources: AVO, HVO, USGS, CENAPRED, GVP and others.]
The explosive eruption occurred at 09:56UTC producing a large plume of smoke and ash followed by lava flow.
Authorities upgraded the volcanic warning to a “Level 3 (Do not approach 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).
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.
In August 2015, a level 4 emergency warning [“prepare to evacuate”] was issued after the local “experts” warned that a major eruption was imminent.
The 3,763 m volcano, dubbed the “Volcano of Fire,” sits about 10km SW of the colonial city of Antigua (Pop: ~ 50,000), Guatemala’s former capital, and about 50km from Guatemala City. and is one of Central America’s most active volcanoes.
Fuego volcano [Volcán de Fuego, or “Volcano of Fire,”] located about 40 km southwest of Guatemalan capital, erupted on February 7-8, prompting the authorities to evacuate a nearby community and forcing the closure of the capital’s international airport.
In September 2012, powerful explosions at Fuego ejected smoke and ash about 4km into the air, spewing two lava stream down the volcano flanks, accompanied by thousands of tons of volcanic ash and tephra. Tens of thousands of people from two dozen villages nearest to the volcano were either evacuated, or put on evacuation alert.
The camera is located at INSIVUMEH’s Fuego Observatory in Panimache, Chimaltenango, Guatemala about 7 km southwest of the summit of Fuego. The image is updated every minute. Note that all times are UTC (local time plus 6 hrs).
Fuego is a stratovolcano in the Central American volcanic arc that erupts crystal-rich lavas of basalt to basaltic-andesite composition. It has been continuously active since 1999. Typical activity includes dozens of small-scale explosive eruptions each day.
Fuego is monitored by the Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e and Hidrología (INSIVUMEH). In addition to volcano observatories, INSIVUMEH maintains a network of seismograph stations near the active volcanoes. For the latest webicorder plots from INSIVUMEH, click here. The Fuego station is called FG3.
Impressive column of ash erupts out of Mexico’s Colima volcano
Mexico’s Colima volcano ejected a significant column of ash and volcanic gasses into the air in the latest of a series of intermittent eruptions, that began last year.
The column rose to a height of about 2.5km above the crater, moving north-east, reported Mexico’s civil protection authorities.
Located in the south-western Mexican state of Colima, the 3,839-m volcano, aka Volcán de Fuego [“Volcano of Fire,”] is part of the Colima Volcanic Complex (CVC), comprising of Volcán de Colima, Nevado de Colima and the El Cantaro.
Colima is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico. It is also potentially the most hazardous volcano in the country, with more than 300,000 people living within a 40-km radius of the mountain, and a major eruption could affect about half a million people.
The July eruption forced the evacuation of about 800 residents within a 12-km radius of the volcano. The authorities also closed the airport in the state of Colima, due to the large amounts of volcanic ash which fell in the area.
Eruptions have occurred in 1986, 1991, 1998–1999 and continually since 2001, with the most recent events occurring on November 21, 2014, January 10, 21 and 25, and July 10, 2015.
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 Orange2015-09-18
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 Orange2015-09-18
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 Yellow2015-09-17
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.
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
Chile’s Calbuco erupts for the third time in 8 days
The Chilean volcano, located about 1,000km south of the capital Santiago, erupted for the third time in eight days on Thursday, sending yet another column of volcanic matter up to 4km into the air.
The 2,015-meter high Calbuco, an extremely explosive andesite volcano, ejected about 200 million tons of ash into the atmosphere last week, blanketing multiple towns and communities, damaging the nearby salmon farms and forcing flight cancellation as far as the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, about 1,400 km away.
However, Thursday’s eruption was notably less powerful than the previous two explosions, which prompted the evacuation of thousands of nearby villagers.
The red alert and a 20-km exclusion zone remains in effect, said Chile’s ONEMI emergency office, as officials evacuated an additional 1,580 people.
The total number of evacuees in the Los Lagos region now stands at 6.685 people.
ONEMI has posted the following update (Spanish) on its website:
Chaparrastique volcano eruption prompts evacuation of hundreds of communities
Civil protection authorities in El Salvador have imposed a 5-km exclusion zone around the San Miguel volcano, aka Chaparrastique, and are evacuating up to 5,000 villagers that live near the volcano.
The 2,130-m high volcano, El Salvador’s third highest, ejected columns of smoke and ash up to 5km above the summit.
Chaparrastique, located about 15km SW of San Miguel city (population: 180,000), showed signs of increased activity on December 13.
The eruption has so far deposited more than 10cm of ash in the nearby areas within the coffee-producing region, officials said.
Chaparrastique erupts. Screen dump from a local news report timed at about 10:30 am local time December 29, 2013.
El Salvador
El Salvador sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, close to Middle America Trench, and is subject to significant tectonic movement, causing frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The tiny country (population: 6.3 million) is home to at least 23 volcanoes.
Thousands of people from 12 villages near the volcano located in North Sumatra’s Karo regency were forced to flee their homes after Mount Sinabung erupted on Sunday, it’s first eruption since 2010, reports said.
The volcano erupted at at 2:45 a.m. local time and continued to eject volcanic matter for at least 7 hours.
“There is the potential for another eruption; therefore, we are calling on people to remain alert,” said the Geological Disaster Mitigation and Volcanology Center (PVMBG).
Mt Sinabung erupted in August 2010 after 410 years of dormancy. The eruption claimed a dozen lives and displaced thousands of others.
The eruption which occurred on August 29, 2010 was followed by a more powerful explosion the next day, and much stronger blast on September 7, 2010.
Mount Sinabung spewing volcanic ashes as seen from Simpang Empat Village in Karo, North Sumatera (9/15). Credit: ANTARA/Septianda Perdana.
Approximate location of Sinabung is marked on the map by FEWW. Mount Sinabung is one of Indonesia’s 130 active volcanoes
Sinabung Volcano: Summary of Details
Country: Indonesia
Region: Sumatra
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Volcano Status: Holocene
Last Known Eruption: Unknown [1600?]
Summit Elevation: 2,460m
Latitude: 3.17°N Longitude: 98.392°E
Source: GVP
Sinabung is located in Group K Volcanoes
Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog.Click image to enlarge.
The PVMBG categorizes Sinabung as a type A volcano, or those that have erupted since 1600. Type B volcanoes have not erupted since 1600 but show signs of activity, and type C are those that have not erupted in recorded history, said a report.
PLOSKY TOLBACHIK VOLCANO (55.83 N, 160.39 E; CAVW #1000-24-)
Elevation: 3,085 m (10119 ft )
Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
The massive 3,085-meter-high Plosky [flat] Tolbachik, one of Russia’s largest volcanoes, has spewed two streams of lava, one extending for about 18km and the other 6km one made 18 kilometers, said a report.
“The fiery river has been setting trees on its way ablaze while turning ice and snow into clouds of steam.”
Simultaneous activities have also been detected in the Kizimen and Shiveluch volcanoes in the Kamchatka region, the report said.
