Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 27 September - 3 October 2017

Agung | Bali (Indonesia) : On 29 September PVMBG reported that earthquakes at Agung were becoming stronger with more felt by local residents, and larger ones felt in areas 45-55 km SW including Denpasar and Kuta. Fumarolic emissions were identified in satellite data, as well as hot areas on the crater floor that had enlarged over the previous week. A new fracture on the crater floor emitted steam. After a M 4.2 earthquake was detected at 1627 on 26 September emissions intensified and rose 500 m above the crater rim. On 4 October BNPB reported that seismicity continued to fluctuate at high levels, and weak emissions rose above the crater rim. The number of evacuees reached 141,213 (spread out in 416 shelters) from 78 villages, though about 2,600 in locations outside of the evacuation zone were returning home; there were 28 villages (about 70,000 people) within the evacuation zone. The Alert Level remained at 4 (the highest level on a scale of 1-4) with the exclusion zone at 9 km, and an additional expansion to 12 km in the SE, S, and SW directions.

Ambrym | Vanuatu : On 28 September the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory (VGO) reported that minor eruptive activity continued at Ambrym. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 0-5). Areas deemed hazardous were within a 2-km radius from Benbow Crater and a 3-km radius from Marum Crater.

Aoba | Vanuatu : On 28 September the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory (VGO) stated that activity at Aoba remained at a moderate level. The Alert Level remained at (the second highest level on a scale of 0-5) and VGO reminded residents and tourists to stay outside of the Red Zone defined as a 6.5 km radius around Manaro Lakua cone (Manaro Voui). According to news sources, island officials ordered the evacuation of all of the island inhabitants, and by 4 October about 11,600 people had been evacuated. A 4 October news article noted that during the past week tephra had fallen on local villages.