Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): The volcano's eruption continues at elevated levels similar to the past days. The growing lava dome produces frequent small to medium-sized pyroclastic flows, sometimes surpassing 5 km length. Thus, the flows approach the current limits of the exclusion zone (5 km, 7 km on SE side) and it would be wise to extend it to at least 10 km, although the logistic and social problems and side-effects involved would be immense. Already more than 26,000 people are now listed as evacuees and authorities make efforts to establish emergency escape routes in the 10 km radius zone everyone should know. It is impossible to predict how the volcano's eruption will evolve. In addition to the pyroclastic flows caused by collapses of the highly unstable growing lava dome, the vents show a tendency towards increasing ash venting and explosions. One scenario could be the re-appearance of larger explosions, which would destroy the lava dome and possibly produce pyroclastic flows that well surpass the ones currently seen, as happened in the deadly Merapi 2010 eruption.

Dukono (Halmahera): More explosions occurred today at the volcano. Ash plumes were reported at 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude extending up to 60 nautical miles to the NE.

Pacaya (Guatemala): The volcano continues to effuse a weakly alimented lava flow from the southern fissure and has mild strombolian activity at the summit crater, with explosions occurring about every 2 minutes and ejections reaching 25-70 m above the crater.

Fuego (Guatemala): Activity continues at moderate levels as during the past days. INSIVUMEH counted 13 moderate explosions with shock waves and ash plumes rising 300-800 m. The lava flow on the upper southern slope towards the Trinidad drainage was 300 m long this morning.