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January 2010 Volcano News | John Seach
Reports by John Seach
Reports are posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT +10 hr).
Archived Volcano News
Friday 22nd January 2010
Gaua Volcano, Vanuatu
Small eruptions continue at Gaua volcano in Vanuatu. On 21st January ash emissions reached an altitude of 10,000 ft, and drifted south. Ash has been continuously emitted since 14th December 2009.
More on Gaua Volcano...
Volcanoes of Vanuatu...
Tuesday 19th January 2010
Yellowstone Earthquake Swarm (USA)
An earthquake swarm began at Yellowstone volcano on 17th January 2010. The swarm was located 10 miles northwest of Old Faithful. A total of 206 earthquakes were measured with magnitude range from 0.5 to 2.7 as of 9 am on morning of 18 Jan. One of the larger earthquakes was felt by observers in Yellowstone National Park. The earthquakes are related to tectonic activity.
More on Yellowstone Volcano...
Volcanoes of USA...
Friday 15th January 2010
Nyamuragira Volcano, Democratic Republic of Congo
Eruptions continue at Nyamuragira volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lava could cover the Goma and Sake road within weeks. Ash and gas emissions from the volcano have caused health problems for residents. Drinking water from open springs and rainwater catchments in Sake, Kingi and Rusayo have been contaminated by ash. Health centres at Sake and Rusayo have reported increasing cases of diarrhoea, and eye diseases. People around the volcano have reported death of domestic animals and damage to crops. It is estimated that 52,096 people are affected, including: 7,901 from Mugunga (Mumbabiro), 13, 000 from Rusayo and 31,195 from Sake & Kingi localities.
More on Nyamuragira Volcano...
Volcanoes of Democratic Republic of Congo...
Thursday 14th January 2010
Malawi Earthquake Swarm
A swarm of earthquakes has hit Malawi in the African Rift Valley. On 20th December 2009 a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit near the town of Karonga in Malawi. The earthquake damaged school buildings, houses, police stations, health centers and boreholes. Since December 2009 at least 30 earthquakes have hit the northern district of Karonga, killing four people, injuring at least 180 and affecting 145,000 others. These are the largest earthquakes in the area since 1966 when a magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit. Earthquake swarms often precede volcanic eruptions. The closest volcano to the earthquakes is Rungwe, 90 km NNW in Tanzania.
More on Rungwe Volcano...
Volcanoes of Tanzania...
Thursday 14th January 2010
Planchon-Peteroa Volcano, Chile/Argentina border
Continuous ash emissions were reported from Planchón-Peteroa Volcano on 13th January 2010. Ash reached a height of 25,000 ft. This is the first eruption at the volcano since November 1998.
More on Planchon-Peteroa Volcano...
Volcanoes of Argentina...
Volcanoes of Chile...
Thursday 14th January 2010
Haiti Earthquake (mag 7.0)
A major earthquake (magnitude 7.0) hit Port Au Prince, Haiti on Tuesday 12th January 2010 at 04:53 pm. Many buildings have collapsed in the capital, causing tens of thousands of casualties, and deaths. The earthquake hit along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone (EPGFZ) which extends from Jamaica through the southern peninsula of Haiti to the Dominican Republic. The closest active volcanoes to the earthquake epicentre are located more than 1000 km away, and includes Soufriere Hills on Montserrat.
Volcanoes of Caribbean...
Monday 11th January 2010
Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat
Large pyroclastic flows occurred at Soufriere Hills volcano at 2:49 pm on 8th January 2010. The pyroclastic flows were caused by a collapsing tephra column, similar to the events in the summer of 1997. The flows traveled northeast down Whites Bottom Ghaut and reached the sea. The flow which moved down Tuitts Ghaut stopped a few hundred metres from the sea. Pyroclastic flows also traveled northwest down Tyers Ghaut and into the Belham valley. The event lasted 11 minutes and was not preceded by seismic activity. Ashfall occurred on the northwestern side of the volcano. Residents said it was one of the largest eruptions they have witnessed at the volcano, since its reawakening in 1995. At 1:28 am on 10th January there was another explosion at the volcano. The seismic signal lasted 7 minutes. The eruption produced pyroclastic flows which traveled rapidly northeast down White Bottom and Tuitts Ghaut. Flows also moved northwest down Tyers Ghaut and down the Gages valley towards Plymouth. A third smaller explosion occurred at 8:27 pm on 10th January. Scientists don't believe there was a major collapse of the dome, but a significant amount of material was lost. Hazard level 4 remains in place around the volcano, which means there is no access allowed in zone C, and only daytime access to zone B.
More on Soufriere Hills Volcano...
Sunday 10th January 2010
Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica
A new crater has formed on the eastern side of the summit of Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica, along with a new fissure 65 x 20 m in diameter on the western side of the summit. Blocks from the eruption on 5th January were ejected towards the west. Thirty-six people have been evacuated from the slopes of the volcano. Residents are being warned to stay at least 6 km from the crater.
More on Turrialba Volcano...
Volcanoes of Costa Rica...
Saturday 9th January 2010
Solomon Islands Earthquake (mag 6.3)
A large earthquake (magnitude 6.3) hit the Solomon Islands today at 4:51 pm local time. The epicentre was located 40 km SW of Kavachi volcano. Kavachi is a shallow submarine volcano which has formed islands on 9 occasions. Kavachi volcano is located on the Pacific plate only 30 km northeast of its convergent boundary with the downgoing Indo-Australian plate.
More on Kavachi volcano...
Volcanoes of Solomon Islands...
Friday 8th January 2010
Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica
Phreatic eruptions at Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica occurred from the west crater. Changes in the crater have occurred over the past four years, including ground cracking, landslides and fumaroles. Ashfall within 4 km of the crater consisted of pulverized old rock, and didn't include any juvenile magmatic material. Ashfall on farming land may cause problems for cattle if contaminated grass is injested. Residents have been warned of the adverse effects of ash on food crops, and machinery.
More on Turrialba Volcano...
Volcanoes of Costa Rica...
Thursday 7th January 2010
Nyamuragira Volcano, Democratic Republic of Congo
The eruption continues at Nyamuragira volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After 4 days lava has traveled 21 kilometers, and is only 7 kilometers from the Goma-Sake road. Four craters were active at the beginning of the eruption. The lava flows are still within the boundaries of Virunga National Park. Volcanologists from Goma said lava could reach the Goma-Sake road within 2 to 3 days. Chimpanzees of Tongo have not been harmed.
More on Nyamuragira Volcano...
Volcanoes of Democratic Republic of Congo...
Wednesday 6th January 2010
Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica
An eruption occurred at Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica on 5th January 2010. The eruption emitted ash and gas. The volcano had been showing signs of activity since the weekend. Twenty people were evacuated. This is the first eruption at the volcano since 1866.
More on Turrialba Volcano...
Volcanoes of Costa Rica...
Tuesday 5th January 2010
Solomon Islands Earthquakes
Strong aftershocks have occurred in the Solomon Islands, following yesterdays major earthquake. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred at 10:28 am 4th January and magnitude 6.9 today at 11:15 pm.
Volcanoes of Solomon Islands...
Tuesday 5th January 2010
Mayon Volcano, Philippines
Activity continues at Mayon volcano, Philippines. Over the past day 21 rockfall events were recorded by seismographs, and were related to lava avalanches. The alert status of Mayon volcano was lowered from 4 to 3 on 2nd January.
More on Mayon Volcano...
Volcanoes of Philippines...
Tuesday 5th January 2010
Nyamuragira Volcano, Democratic Republic of Congo
An eruption began at Nyamuragira volcano on 2nd January 2010 at 4:58 am local time. Lava flowed 500 m in a direction south and southwest of the volcano.
More on Nyamuragira Volcano...
Volcanoes of Democratic Republic of Congo...
Tuesday 5th January 2010
Solomon Islands Earthquake (Mag 7.2)
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit 22 km ENE of Coleman Seamount in the Solomon Islands at 9:36 am on 4th January 2010. A tsunami possibly hit uninhabited Tetepare Island. Landslides occurred on Tetepare and Rendova islands. More than 500 homes were destroyed in Marovo. Kavachi is an active undersea volcano 88 km SE of the earthquake epicentre.
More on Kavachi Volcano...
Volcanoes of Solomon Islands...