Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Askja (Central Iceland): A swarm of shallow earthquakes at 2-10 km depth has started under the Herðubreið volcano about 12 km NE of the Askja caldera. The largest earthquakes so far were 2 magnitude 3.2 and 3.0 events.

Whether the earthquakes are caused by intruding magma at shallow depth, and could be a potential precursor to a new eruption of the volcano, is at present unknown.

Dukono (Halmahera): Explosive eruptions, strombolian to vulcanian type, continue at the volcano. Ash plumes at 8,000 ft (2.4 km) altitude were observed drifting up to 50 nautical miles to the east.

Fuego (Guatemala): With the arrival of the rain season, INSIVUMEH warns of mud flows that will likely occur during heavy rainfalls remobilizing loose deposits that have accumulated in the canyons draining from the volcano. Such lahars are potentially very destructive and can reach and flood low lying areas on the south coast.

The canyons that are most affected by lahars include the Santa Teresa, Taniluya, Ceniza, El Jute, Trinidad, and Las Lajas canyons, which are tributaries of the rivers Pantaleon, Achiguate, and Guacalate.

Similarly, at Santiaguito volcano, lahars could occur inside the river beds of Nima I, Nima II, San Isidro-Tambor, which drain into the Samala river. Potential damage could be afflicted to the bridge of Castillo Armas, and to the road turn at Niño.