Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): The volcano continues to slowly extrude viscous lava, which results in occasional small to moderately sized pyroclastic flows (2-3 per day on average). Unfortunately, it indirectly claimed another victim: heavy rains in recent days have appeared and produced numerous mud flows (lahars) that caused damages in various places, but also a victim: on 9 October, a lahar traveled through the Susuk riverbed near Tiganderket village on the western slope and hit a couple on a motorcycle while crossing the valley. It killed the driver who could not escape the muddy torrent, while his wife survived clinging to a tree trunk.

Veniaminof (Alaska Peninsula, USA): AVO reported that "slightly elevated levels of seismicity continued to be detected at Veniaminof during 7-13 October. Minor steam emissions were recorded by the webcam on 7 October. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Advisory."

Fuego (Guatemala): Another paroxysm, the 9th this year, occurred at the volcano during 10-13 Oct. Strongly increased lava effusion and violent strombolian activity produced intermittent lava fountaining up to 300 m high, and re-alimented the two lava flows on the southern and western slopes, which reached 1000 and 1300 m length. Small pyroclastic flows occurred when parts of the lava flows on the steep slope collapsed. A new cone has formed around one of the two active vents on the rim of the volcano's summit crater and now forms its highest point.

Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): The current, remarkably long-lived eruption continues with no signs of weakening. On the contrary, a significant increase in tremor and lava effusion was noted starting 12 Oct, reaching high values comparable to the start of the eruption. The observatory estimated the effusion rate to have risen from 9 to 13.5 cubic meters per second. The part of the Enclos southeast of Dolomieu crater has been profoundly changed by the eruption: A large pahoehoe lava field with 10-20 m thickness is growing, fed by a network of lava tubes originating from the vents near the base of Piton Bert. Around the principal vent, a cone has been built that contains a violently boiling and spectacular lava lake. Several older cones are in the stage of disappearing beneath the lava field.