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November 2009 Volcano News | John Seach
Reports by John Seach
Reports are posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT +10 hr).
Archived Volcano News
Thursday 26th November 2009
Gaua Volcano, Vanuatu
An increase in activity at Gaua volcano, Vanuatu has forced the evacuation of over 300 people from three villages on the west coast of Gaua Island. People have been suffering from respiratory problems in the last few days as a strong wind has carried the gas and ash over villages. Two boats from the police and health department in Torba are starting to evacuate people this morning. Negotiations are taking place with ships owners to help with the evacuation because the two motor boats cannot carry enough people. Chiefs from two villages, Namasari and Lembot, from the east of Gaua met yesterday about housing the relocated people. The National Disaster Management Office has maintained the level of alert on 2 (out of a maximum 4) but during the past days, a fall and gas emission has increased.
More on Gaua Volcano...
Volcanoes of Vanuatu...
Wednesday 25th November 2009
Karkar Volcano, Papua New Guinea
An possible eruption occurred at Karkar volcano at 6:39 pm on 25th November 2009. The eruption plume reached a height of 45,000 ft. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit 90 km SSE of Karkar volcano 7.5 hours before the eruption. This eruption has not been confirmed.
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Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Galeras Volcano, Colombia
An eruption occurred at Galeras volcano, Colombia on 20th November 2009, causing 1000 evacuations. The eruption occurred at 8:37 am and was accompanied by sound which was heard by residents surrounding the volcano. The eruption column was estimated at 10 km high and drifting north. The seismic signal associated with the eruption was lower than that recorded during the eruption of 30th September 2009. The locals were taken to shelters in Pasto, the capital of Narino department on the border with Ecuador. Traffic restrictions have affected the highway linking Pashto to areas close to Galeras. The eruption caused ashfall in Pashto and surrounding villages.
More on Galeras Volcano...
Volcanoes of Colombia...
Sunday 15th November 2009
Klyuchevskoy Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
A lava flow has begun down the SE slope of Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka, after the crater overfilled. The volcano continued to throw red-hot rocks to a height of 200 meters above the crater. The current eruption started in August 2009 after several months of inactivity. The eruption started slow and the intensity is rapidly growing. Klyuchevskoy volcano started a new eruptive cycle on 15th February 2007. Volcanic ash from that eruption drifted over 500 km across the Bering Sea at a height of 8.7 km.
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Volcanoes of Kamchatka...
Wednesday 11th November 2009
Batur Volcano, Indonesia
Hiking trail has been closed at Batur volcano in Bali, Indonesia due to fears of an eruption. Since 1st November 2009 there have been 53 deep and 83 shallow volcanic earthquakes. Evacuation will be necessary if the alert level is raised to the next higher level. Currently residents are allowed to continue activities around the volcano, but should stay away from the summit area. Batur volcano is a popular tourist location on Bali, and offers spectacular views of one of the world's most impressive calderas. The last eruption of Batur volcano was in 2000 when ash emissions reach a height of 300 m above the summit.
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Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Wednesday 11th November 2009
Mayon Volcano, Philippines
An ash eruption occurred at mayon volcano, Philippines at 1:58 am on 11th November 2009. An explosion earthquake lasting 3 minutes was accompanied by rumbling noises and ejection of incandescent fragments on the upper slopes. Ash fell on the southwest side of the volcano. Twenty volcanic earthquakes were recorded over the past 24 hours. A 6 km radius Permanent Danger Zone and 7 km Extended Danger Zone on the southeast flank of the volcano are off limits due to the threat of explosions and rockfalls.
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Volcanoes of Philippines...
Tuesday 10th November 2009
Chaiten Volcano, Chile
During the period 16-30 October 2009 dome growth continued at Chaiten volcano, Chile. Visual and seismic activity have not varied compared to the previous reporting period. A significant amount of pyroclastic material and rocks have accumulated in the adjacent river valleys, and present a lahar hazard after heavy rain. The volcano remains at alert level RED.
More on Chaiten Volcano...
Volcanoes of Chile...
Monday 9th November 2009
Batur Volcano, Indonesia
Volcanic earthquakes have increased significantly at Batur volcano in Indonesia. Shallow volcanic earthquakes measured at the volcano were: 11 in September, 20 in October, 7 between 1-7 November, and 53 on 8th November. The alert status at Batur volcano was increased on 8th November 2009 from I (Normal) to II (Waspada).
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Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Monday 9th November 2009
Mt Etna Volcano, Italy
Eruptions have resumed at Mt Etna volcano, Italy after 4 months of inactivity. On Saturday 7th November Strombolian eruptions commenced at the eastern flank of South East crater. On 8th November at 07:51 am there was a magnitude 4.4 earthquake beneath the southwest flank of Mt Etna at a depth of 10 km.
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Volcanoes of Italy...
Monday 9th November 2009
Indonesia Earthquake (mag 6.7)
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit Sumbawa Island, Indonesia on 9th November 2009. The epicentre was at a depth of 18 km and located 78 km east of Tambora volcano which had a large eruption in 1815. The epicentre was 40 km southwest of Karangetang volcano which is currently erupting.
More on Tambora Volcano...
More on Karangetang volcano...
Saturday 7th November 2009
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion
The short-lived eruption at Piton de la Fournaise volcano is over. For the first time since 2007, lava has flowed outside the crater. The lava flows were widely visible from the shore of Reunion, and by daybreak yesterday only fumaroles were active. Lava flows were no longer active and there was a gradual decrease in the intensity of volcanic tremor. From 5:30 pm on 5th November earthquakes occurred at a rate of one to two per minute, then at 7:30 pm a seismic crisis lasted for an hour, followed by a pause. Around 9 pm volcanic tremor signaled the start of the eruption.
The volcano provided a spectacle with lava flows lighting up the sky and attracting attention motorists between St. Philip and Piton Sainte-Rose. Motorists traveling on the road were the first witnesses the lava flow and raise the alarm at 9:15 pm. They described mostly fountains and lava flows. The eruption consisted of multiple lava flows which moved rapidly down the slope. Two fissures appeared to have opened up on the east side near the summit. The police of Saint-Philippe encouraged motorists to be careful and not to park anywhere to watch the eruption. There were no road closures. Residents heard about the eruption on the radio and started to come, but the crowd was not large due to the time of the night. Between 11:10 and 11:15 pm, volcanic tremor had almost disappeared. Up until 12:30 pm about a hundred people stood at the foot of la rampe du Tremblet in the Grand Brûlé and observed the lava flows. On the morning of 6th November at 6:45 am a police helicopter flew over the area. The reconnaissance flight confirmed that two fractures opened between the south and east of the summit crater Dolomieu, which produced lava flows far from the road. The summary from the volcanologists is as follows: at 20.50, the eruption has started in the south cliff inside Dolomieu crater. At 21.05, the crack was extended and opened on the east-southeast near the crater rim of Dolomieu. At 21h20: a second crack opened on the eastern slope of the summit cone. Two lava flows were visible on the flanks of Piton de la Fournaise. The volcano has been plunged into a relative calm. The situation remains unstable. A second eruption may start at any time warned scientists from the volcano observatory.
More on Piton de la Fournaise Volcano...
Friday 6th November 2009
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion
An eruption commenced last night at Piton de la Fournaise volcano, Reunion Island. For the past several days seismic activity increased, with 167 earthquakes occurring at the volcano yesterday. The eruption occurred at Dolomieu crater with a lava fountain and a lava flow on the southeast slope.
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Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Krakatau Volcano, Indonesia
Alert level at Krakatau volcano in Indonesia has been lowered from Siaga (Level III) to Waspada (Level II). Explosion earthquakes measured over the past few months were August 4311, September 541, and October 34. There has been a significant decline in eruptive activity at the volcano since August 2009. People are still advised to avoid landing on Anak Krakatau. Communities in the coastal areas of Banten and Lampung have been warned not to believe runours that the eruption Anak Krakatau will cause a tsunami. Fishing boats are permitted around Anak Krakatau.
More on Krakatau Volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Sunday 1st November 2009
Chaiten Volcano, Chile
The Mayor of Chaiten has said that some residents wish to return to the town which was destroyed by the eruptions in 2008-09. Residents are still displaced from the town 18 months after the eruption. There are many people still living in the surrounding area of Chaiten, and some assistance is being given to people still living in the town, such as supply of emergency water, provision of street lighting, and clearing of ash from the streets. Last week a tourism meeting was held in Futaleufu, Chile, near Chaiten town where the current state of Chaiten volcano was discussed. A scientist from National Service of Geology and Mining of Chile said that nothing can be predicted, only scenarios can be imagined. In the case of Chaitén, it is believed there is a high likelihood that the eruption is maintained for several more months. Tremors detected in the region of El Bolson are not associated with volcanic activity but are due to fracture of rock by Liquiñe-Ofqui tectonic fault. Along this fault are several active volcanoes such as Hudson, which erupted in 1991 with one of the most violent eruptions in the history of Chile. Chaiten volcano continues to erupt on RED alert, and Chaiten town remains an uninhabitable zone.
More on Chaiten Volcano...
Volcanoes of Chile...