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September 2009 Volcano News | John Seach
Reports by John Seach
Reports are posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT +10 hr).
Archived Volcano News
Wednesday 30th September 2009
Indonesia Earthquake (magnitude 7.6)
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit 30 km offshore from Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia today at 5:16 pm local time. Active volcanoes close to the earthquake epicentre include Talang, Tandikat, Marapi, Kerinci, and Sorik Marapi. Talang volcano erupted after the Great 2004 earthquake. A significant tsunami was not generated with a wave height of 0.27 m measured at Padang.
More on Talang Volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Wednesday 30th September 2009
Samoa Earthquake (Magnitude 8) and Tsunami
A magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit Samoa Tuesday 29th September 2009 at 6:48 am local time. The shallow earthquake generated a tsunami which hit Samoa causing destruction to villages and causing an unknown number of deaths. Tsunami height was 1.5 m at Pago Pago (Samoa), 0.7 m at Apia Upolu (Samoa) and 0.4 m at Rarotonga (Cook Islands). A wider tsunami watch for the Pacific Ocean was later cancelled. The closest volcano to the earthquake epicentre is Curacoa in Tonga, 170 km west. Curacoa volcano last erupted in 1979.
Volcanoes of Samoa...
Volcanoes of Tonga...
Monday 28th September 2009
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
A collapse occurred at the summit crater vent of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii. Rockfalls accompanied the collapse and produced a brown ash plume. Thirteen earthquakes were located at the volcano - five beneath the southeast summit caldera between Halemaumau and Keanakakoi Craters, four west of the summit caldera, and four on south flank faults. Lava continues to flow through tubes from TEB vent to the ocean at Waikupanaha.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...
Monday 28th September 2009
Dieng Volcano, Indonesia
A phreatic explosion occurred at Sileri crater, Dieng volcano, Indonesia on evening 26-27 September 2009. The eruption lasted for 15 seconds. Between 1-19 September there were 2 volcanic earthquakes, 20-23 September 1 volcanic earthquake, 24th September 1 volcanic earthquake, no volcanic earthquakes on 25-26 September. The explosion was heard at a distance of 2 km from the crater. During the phreatic eruption, mud was ejected to a radius of 140 m. Temperature of water in Kawah Sileri remained fairly constant at about 70 deg C. There was no emissions of toxic gas at the eruption site and surroundings. The alert level at the volcano remains at "Normal". No evacuations were ordered. People are advised to stay at least 500 m away from the craters Sileri, Sinila, Timbang, Siglagah, and Sikidang. The last eruption at Dieng volcano occurred at Kawah Sibanteng on 15th January 2009.
More on Dieng Volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Sunday 27th September 2009
Rabaul Volcano, Papua New Guinea
Sub-continuous pale to dark grey ash emissions occurred at Rabaul volcano, Papua New Guinea between 18-24 September 2009. There was a decline in the level and frequency of roaring and rumbling noises. Moderate to strong explosions continued, and incandescent ejection of lava was visible some nights. Ashfall was reported mainly northwest of the volcano. Seismicity was dominated by high frequency earthquakes, which accompanied roaring and rumbling noises. Deflation is still occurring at the caldera. People are advised to stay at least 1-2 km from Tavurvur cone.
More on Rabaul Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Sunday 27th September 2009
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Seismic tremor remains elevated, and is increasing at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Over the past day, four earthquakes have been recorded beneath the volcano - three in the summit area, and one beneath the south flank. Three deflation-inflation events have occurred at Kilauea this week. This is caused by changes in a secondary magma chamber east of Halemaumau Crater at about 750 m below ground level. This secondary magma chamber produces episodic deformation events such as occurred this week. Deflation-inflation events typically have the following features - in the first phase, tiltmeters surrounding Kilauea caldera record slow deflation centered at the Halemaumau magma chamber that persists for about 24 hours. The second phase begins as the slow deflation abruptly gives way to rapid inflation, which is centred at Halemaumau magma chamber. The inflation phase is short-lived, lasting about 20 minutes. In the final phase, tiltmeters record exponentially decaying deflation, lasting from 8 to 20 hours, which returns the final tilt close to pre-event levels. The seismicity during deflation-inflation events is dominated by bursts of volcanic tremor at the onset of the inflationary phase.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...
Thursday 24th September 2009
Chaitén Volcano, Chile
Between 1-16 September, dome growth continued at Chaiten volcano, Chile. During the period, a total of 18 earthquakes were recorded per day. Due to the ongoing risk of dome collapse, pyroclastic flows and lahars, the volcano remains at highest alert level RED.
More on Chaitén Volcano...
Volcanoes of Chile...
Saturday 19th September 2009
Sakar Volcano, Papua New Guinea
A possible eruption plume was observed at Sakar volcano on 19th September 2009. Plume extended 90 nautical miles NW of the volcano. No emissions visible on satellite images. The eruption has not been confirmed. The emissions are thin, and may be ash, steam, or smoke. There has been no historical eruption at the volcano.
More on Sakar Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Saturday 19th September 2009
Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat
Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat has been relatively quiet for six months. There has been no extrusion of new lava, and no explosions in that period. Surface activity was restricted to rockfalls and occasional small pyroclastic flows from the dome, together with mudflows. While gas emission has remained unchanged, the number of earthquakes recorded has fallen to the lowest level seen during the eruption cycle. This suggests the long-term activity has changed at the volcano. It could possibly mean the "beginning of the end" of the eruption cycle. Formal end of eruption criteria have not yet been met. However, the risks to people living near the volcano have not changed, and sudden resumption of explosive and extrusive activity can rapidly pose a threat to adjacent areas.
More on Soufriere Hills Volcano...
Volcanoes of Caribbean...
Wednesday 16th September 2009
Alamagan Volcano, Mariana Islands
Super typhoon Choi-Wan passed directly over Almagan island at 4pm on 15th September 2009. Maximum wind speeds reached 150 miles per hour. There were 15 people living on the island, but no injuries or damage was reported.
More on Alamagan Volcano...
Volcanoes of Mariana Islands...
Tuesday 15th September 2009
Mayon Volcano, Philippines
Three minor ash explosions occurred at the summit crater of Mayon Volcano in Philippines today at 5:37 am. The eruptions lasted for 3 minutes and produced a brown ash column which rose 700 m above the summit. Eleven volcanic earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours. Mayon volcano remains at level 2 alert. A 6 km radius Permanent Danger Zone, and 7 km Extended Danger Zone on the southeast flank of the volcano remain in place.
More on Mayon Volcano...
Volcanoes of Philippines...
Thursday 3rd September 2009
Kanlaon Volcano, Philippines
There has been a large increase in volcanic earthquakes at Kanlaon volcano, Philippines. Between 23rd August and 1st September there were 257 earthquakes measured. This seismic activity is higher than the background levels, which usually varies from 0 to 4 events in 24 hour period. Two earthquakes were felt by residents surrounding the volcano. At 5:26 PM on August 23, 2009 one earthquake was felt at Intensity II in Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City. A second earthquake at 10:27 PM on August 30, 2009 was felt at Intensity III in La Castellana and Intensity IV in La Carlotta City and Bago City. Epicenters of the earthquakes clustered at the north-west slope of the volcano. These earthquakes may indicate movements of an active local fault which may be caused by magma movement beneath the volcano. Surface observations did not indicate significant change in the steam emission from the crater. Since Kanlaon Volcano has a history of sudden steam-driven explosions without precursors, the public is reminded to avoid entering the 4 km Permanent Danger Zone. The status of Kanlaon Volcano is maintained at Alert Level 0.
More on Kanlaon Volcano...
Volcanoes of Philippines...
Wednesday 2nd September 2009
Chaitén Volcano, Chile
Between 4-20 August eruptions continued at Chaiten volcano, Chile. Ash emissions rose 1.5 km above the crater. Accumulation of ash and volcanic rocks in adjacent valleys is creating a lahar hazard. Seismicity remains high, and alert level RED remains at the volcano.
More on Chaitén Volcano...
Volcanoes of Chile...
Wednesday 2nd September 2009
Llaima Volcano, Chile
Seismicity at Llaima volcano, Chile decreased in early August, then increased between 17-21 August 2009. Long period earthquakes at the volcano are related to underground magma movement. There is a risk of further eruptions, and a 4 km exclusion zone is in place around the volcano. Llaima remains at level 2 alert.
More on Llaima Volcano...
Volcanoes of Chile...
Wednesday 2nd September 2009
Indonesia Earthquake (Mag 7.0)
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit 180 km SSE of Jakarta, Indonesia today 2nd Sept 2:55 pm local time. A tsunami watch was later cancelled. Volcanoes within 100 km of the epicentre include Galunggung, Guntur, Papandayan, Patuha, and Talagabodas.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Saturday 29th August 2009
Lake Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Gases trapped below the surface of Lake Kivu in eastern Congo could explode any day, threatening the lives of tens of thousands of locals, the environment minister of Democratic Republic of Congo warned on Tuesday. Researchers have discovered a high concentration of gas in the relatively shallow Gulf of Kabuno, in the lake's northwest corner. "The risk of explosion is imminent," Jose Endundo said. There is an estimated three cubic kilometres of carbon dioxide located 12 metres below the surface of the gulf, which sits on a tectonic fault. Scientists fear an earthquake or large lava flow from a nearby Nyiragongo or Nyamuragira volcanoes could create a release of gas, creating a deadly cloud. An eruption of some 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 that had been trapped under Lake Nyos in isolated northwestern Cameroon killed around 1,700 people in 1986. Several large villages lie on the shores of the Gulf of Kabuno, and the city of Goma, with a population of around 1 million, is located around 20 km to the east.
More on Lake Kivu...
Volcanoes of Democratic Republic of Congo...