Volcano Live
volcanolive.com
May 2009 Volcano News | John Seach
Reports by John Seach
Reports are posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT +10 hr).
Archived Volcano News
Thursday 21st May 2009
Harrat Lunayyir volcano, Saudi Arabia
A series of earthquakes occurred near Harrat Lunayyir volcano in north east Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 19th May 2009. The largest earthquake measured magnitude 5.7. The earthquakes produced cracks in the ground. A total of 2,289 people, including 326 families, were evacuated from a 20 km radius around the volcano, 240 km north of Madinah. Evacuees were housed in Yanbu. The evacuations took place as 30 earthquakes were recorded between 3 and 5.4 on the Richter scale. Local authorities have announced the closure of schools for two weeks starting Saturday in Umlaj.
More on Harrat Lunayyir volcano...
Volcanoes of Saudi Arabia...
Sunday 10th May 2009
Mt Etna Volcano, Italy
A flank eruption continues at Mt Etna volcano in Sicily. The fissure has been active for a year (since 13th May 2008). The lava flow is at an altitude of 2480 m in the Valle del Bove. Hornitos are built along the fracture and strongly emit sulphurous gases.
More on Mt Etna Volcano...
Volcanoes of Italy...
Friday 8th May 2009
Chaitén Volcano, Chile
Dome growth continues in the summit crater at Chaiten volcano, Chile. The surface morphology of the dome is complex and uneven. The central pinnacle of the dome has broken into three main blocks. The tallest spine is 100 m high. Continuing rapid growth of the dome creates a collapse risk with the subsequent hazard of block and ash flow down the Chaiten River valley. Seismic activity remains high at the volcano. Chaiten volcano remains on the highest alert level - RED.
More on Chaitén Volcano...
Volcanoes of Chile...
Thursday 7th May 2009
Nyiragongo Volcano, Democratic Republic of Congo
There have been some reports in the media about a possible flank eruption at Nyiragongo volcano. These reports may be incorrect. There has been an active lava lake in the summit crater at Nyiragongo volcano for several years. Satellite hotspot images of the lava lake regularly produce pixels which are subject to positional errors. It is unlikely that a flank eruption at Nyiragongo would go unreported on the ground for several days.
More on Nyiragongo Volcano...
Volcanoes of Democratic Republic of Congo...
Wednesday 6th May 2009
Krakatau Volcano, Indonesia
Eruptions are continuing at Krakatau volcano in Indonesia from a crater on the SW side of the cone. A volcanic ash advisory from Darwin VAAC reported ash to 10,000 drifting NW of the volcano. Today the level of alert at Krakatau was raised from Waspada (Level 2) to Siaga (Level 3), out of a maximum level 4. A renewed period of eruptions began at Krakatau on 19th March 2009, when 19 explosions were recorded. Between 1-25 April 2009 there have been 4060 explosions. Number of explosion earthquakes measured are 30 April 229, 1 May 324, 2 May 318, 3 May 250, 4 May 403, 5 May 371, and 6 May 132 (until midday). Shallow volcanic earthquakes, and tremor have been recorded. Visual observations from Rajabasa District in Sumatra in April reported ash emissions from 50-1000 m above the summit. From 1-24 April booming noises were heard from Sumatra 174 times, 83 times from 25-29 April. No sounds were heard between 30th April and 6th May. Incandescent material and ash are being emitted to a radius of 500 m from the crater. Pyroclastic flows may reach a distance of 700 m from the crater. Ash is falling 5 km from the volcano. Requests from the Indonesian Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation request people stay at least 2 km from the volcano. Local communities are still allowed to fish outside the 2 km danger zone radius. Communities in the coastal province of Banten and Lampung are requested to remain calm and not fear a tsunami.
More on Krakatau Volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Saturday 2nd May 2009
Rinjani Volcano, Indonesia
An increase in seismic activity has been reported at Rinjani volcano in Indonesia. On 2nd May there were three explosion earthquakes recorded. A white plume was emitted 1000 m above the eruption point. The alert level at the volcano has been raised from Normal (Level I) to Waspada (Level II). The summit has been closed to climbers. Residents need to beware of lahars.
More on Rinjani Volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Saturday 2nd May 2009
Descabezado Grande Volcano, Chile
On 28th April 2009 there were reports of fumaroles on the northern sector of Descabezado Grande volcano, at various times of the day. Photos taken from Armerillo, 33 km SW of the volcano, showed elevated fine pale brown emissions from NE flank of the volcano. The emissions may have been from minor eruptive activity, or gravitational collapse of material from northeastern slopes of the crater.
More on Descabezado Grande Volcano...
Volcanoes of Chile...