Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Etna (Sicily, Italy): Etna today is free of clouds, but strong winds with gusts up to 70 km/h speed prevail. No further significant earthquakes occurred. The only activity remains degassing, and occasional small explosions, not visible, deep inside Bocca Nuova, based on seismic observations (OPEC).

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): The volcano has been relatively productive with 2-4 explosions daily over the past days. Maximum ash plume heights were reported as 10,000 ft (3 km) (VAAC Tokyo).

Copahue (Chile/Argentina): Although degassing and ash emissions have decreased, seismic activity at the volcano has picked up, SERNAGEOMIN reported. An average of 356 earthquakes per hour, sometimes merging into what looks as volcanic tremor, has been recorded recently. This could be related to intruding magma from a new batch of magma rising at the moment and as a result, phreatomagmatic or magmatic activity could occur at the surface in the near future. The hazards from the volcano to populated areas are only significant in the case of a larger eruption creating a large ash plume, possible pyroclastic flows and lahars capable of travelling greater distances. Ash fall in particular would mainly threaten the areas to the east (ie. the Argentine side) because of the prevailing westerly wind directions.

Red alert for Copahue volcano

A red alert has been declared by Chilean and Argentine authorities and ordered the mandatory evacuation of a 25-km (15.5-mile) radius around the Copahue volcano. Around 2,240 people are expected to be evacuated in Chile. Similarly in Neuquen province of Argentina, some 900 people have been ordered to evacuate the area. All schools are closed in the municipality.