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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
January 1-16, 2002
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Yasur Volcano (Vanuatu)
19.52 S, 169.42 E, summit elevation 361 m, Stratovolcano
Wednesday January 16, 2002
Vanuatu Red Cross prepares for possible volcanic eruption
Yasur Volcano has been erupting larger than normal amounts of ash since the January 3 major earthquake (Mag 7.3) which hit the country. Up to 500 people living near Yasur volcano will have to be evacuated if a larger than normal eruption occurs. Ash has rained down on the island's population, polluting water sources, since January 5.
The Vanuatu government last week restricted access to the volcano's crater citing increased risk of an eruption since the earthquake on January 3. With no let up in tremors and ash falls in sight, the five staff members and 30 volunteers of the Vanuatu Red Cross remain on high alert. (ReliefWeb)
Increased volcanic activity was correctly predicted by the author of this website.
More on Yasur Volcano...
Piton de la Fournaise (Reunion, Indian Ocean)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano
Wednesday January 16, 2002
There has been a significant decrease in tremor. At present there remains still a weak residual trace of the tremor. The seismicity under the Piton of the Furnace also practically stopped. Some seisms of low intensity are still recorded. On the level of the second eruptive crack (of the 12 January), only one small net of lava is still visible.
More on Piton de la Fournaise Volcano...
Piton de la Fournaise (Reunion, Indian Ocean)
Wednesday January 16, 2002
Authorities prepared the emergency evacuation of a village menaced by the continuing eruptions of Piton de la Fournaise. Piton de la Fournaise, the island's highest mountain at 2,631 metres, has been spewing lava since January 6, cutting one main road but not threatening any houses.
Authorities launched an emergency plan which could result in the village of Bois Blanc, which has between 700 and 800 inhabitants being evacuated rapidly. (Times of India)
More on Piton de la Fournaise Volcano...
Kerinci Volcano (Sumatra, Indonesia)
1.69 S, 101.27 E, summit elevation 3805 m, stratovolcano
Wednesday January 16, 2002
As of the 15th of January, the Volcanological Society of Indonesia (VSI) has reported that small explosion earthquakes was still dominating Kerinci seismicity within the reporting time, while volcanic earthquakes little increase than previously. Based on visual observation, observer reported that white thin-thick plume is continuing, has medium pressure, reached 50-100 m height and tend to east. Lists of seismicity during the report are: 4 events of deep volcanic (VA), 3 events of shallow volcanic (VB), 263 events of small explosion and 3 events of tectonic earthquake.
More on Kerinci Volcano...
Merapi Volcano (Java, Indonesia)
7.54 S, 110.44 E, summit elevation. 2911 m, Stratovolcano
Wednesday January 16, 2002
As of the 15th of January, the Volcanology Society of Indonesia (VSI) has reported and confirmed that based on visual observations, observers reported that solfata was in white thin-thick colour, low in pressure, reached 300 m of maximum height. Lava avalanche is ongoing and observers noticed 109 times during two weeks, which is dominatly toward to the upstream of Sat and Bebeng rivers, and partly to the Lamat and Senowo rivers, with the maximum distance was about 2.8 km, longer than previous week.
Merapi Volcano...
Krakatau Volcano (Sunda Strait, Indonesia)
6.10 S, 105.42 E, summit elevation 813 m (Rakata), Caldera
Tuesday January 15, 2002
A large 6.1 magnitude earthquake has occurred near Krakatau Volcano.
Time 07:13:01 UT, 15th January 2002. (2:13 pm local time).
Location 6.42S 105.21E , Depth 33.0 kilometers
Region SUNDA STRAIT, INDONESIA
Reference 65 miles (105 km) S of T.-Telukbetung, Sumatera, Indonesia.(NEIC)
Large earthquakes may stimulate volcanic activity.
The earthquake shook the Indonesian capital Jakarta and workers ran into the streets.
More on Krakatau Volcano...
Mt Ruapehu Volcano (New Zealand)
39.28 S, 175.57 E, summit elevation 2779 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday January 15, 2002
Hydrothermal eruptions resume at Ruapehu.
On 11 Jan 2002, Ruapehu volcano resumed its frequent small-scale hydrothermal eruptions from its acidic lake, as evidenced by steam plumes rising over the volcano on both the 11th and 12th.
More on Ruapehu Volcano...
Piton de la Fournaise (Reunion, Indian Ocean)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano
Tuesday January 15, 2002
The eruption of the Piton of the Furnace continues. Sunday January 13, a new crack opened in the plain of Osmunds (interior of the enclosure) at the base of the rampart to 250 m approximately in the west of the Piton Jouvencourt (altitude of approximately 1050m). It was very active, producing at the beginning of day a fountain of lava.
More on Piton de la Fournaise Volcano...
Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat, West Indies)
16.72 N, 62.18 W, summit elevation 915 m, stratovolcano
Sunday January 13, 2002
Eruption of Soufriere Hills Volcano on January 12, 2002 at 1825 (UT).
Ash to 10,000 ft moving NW at 10 knots. Hot spots are visivle on satellite images.
The summit region has increased in volume considerably over recent weeks and now has a broad dome shape crowned by several small spines, the highest of which had an altitude of 1015 metres when measured on the 12th. A large extrusion lobe is active on the upper eastern flank of the dome, just below the general summit level.
More on Soufriere Hills Volcano...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Saturday January 12, 2002
The Kamoamoa ocean entry continues its activity this morning, though steam obscures most of the entries. Visibility was better last night, when several streams could be seen pouring into the sea.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Mt Ruapehu Volcano (New Zealand)
39.28 S, 175.57 E, summit elevation 2779 m, stratovolcano.
Friday January 11, 2002
The crater lake on Mt Ruapehu volcano has been increasing since November 2001.
There is evidence of convection over the south-central vent area, including minor sulphur slicks, upwelling, and light steaming.
More on Mt Ruapehu Volcano...
Papua New Guinea Earthquake (Magnitude 6.7)
Thursday January 10, 2002
A large earthquake has hit the Island of New Guinea. In 1998 this area was hit by a powerful earthquake which caused a devastating tsunami.
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Piton de la Fournaise (Reunion, Indian Ocean)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano
Thursday January 10, 2002
The tremor related to the eruption has further decreased. Yesterday we observed only two seisms low magnitude. The extensometer of Magne continues to increase. The volcano continues to be monitored.
More on Piton de la Fournaise Volcano...
Mt Etna Volcano (Italy)
37.73 N, 15.00 E, summit elevation 3350 m, Shield volcano
Wednesday January 9, 2002
The beginning of the new year has been a quiet one at Etna, as far as eruptive activity is concerned. Boris Behncke of "Etna News" reports on January 7 that snow has fallen down to 1000 m elevation and skiing has resumed on the Northern Slope of Etna.
On the afternoon of 6 January, wisps of vapor began to issue from the western rim of SE crater, which is the highest point of the cone.
The appearance of the new fumarole at the Southeast Crater might be a first clear sign that the crater is "heating up" because magma is slowly rising toward the surface within its conduit.
A resumption of activity at Mt Etna is expected because magma is constantly being fed into the volcano's reservoir.
More on Mt Etna Volcano...
Piton de la Fournaise (Reunion, Indian Ocean)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano
January 7, 2002
A new eruption began Saturday January 5 with 23h 00 local, following a prééruptive crisis several months. Four cracks opened in the north-eastern part of the Fouqué Enclosure to the foot of the Nose Cut of Holy Rose, on the level of the change of incline towards the plain of Osmunds. The 6 in the morning, only two cracks were still active and the face of castings reached the projecting ledge of the plain of Osmunds to approximately 1100 m of altitude.
January 6, with 21h local time, the eruption was visible Piton Divides and of trunk road RN2. On January 7 , the eruption continues; the trémor strongly decreased but seismicity persists.
More on Piton de la Fournaise Volcano...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Sunday January 6, 2002
The Kamoamoa lava entry area has changed greatly in the past three days, starting with breakouts on the western third of the bench on Friday afternoon. Lava pouring into the sea from these breakouts has built the western third of the bench outward 30-40 m and westward a similar amount or more, so that it is now almost even with point on the old sea cliff. Already a small black sand beach has formed seaward of the bench, though it is awash most of the time.
This morning from 0600 to sunup, one could see multiple places where lava was pouring or even falling into the water.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat, West Indies)
16.72 N, 62.18 W, summit elevation 915 m, stratovolcano
Sunday January 6, 2002
Sustained eruption of Soufriere Hills Volcano for half an hour on Saturday 5th January 2002 at 2040 hr (UT). Ash is rising to 10,000 ft and moving Westerly at 10 to 15 knots. Hot spots are visible on satellite images for a few hours.
More on Soufriere Hills Volcano...
Tungurahua Volcano (Ecuador)
1.467 S, 78.442 W, summit elevation 5023 m, stratovolcano
Saturday 5 January 2002
Eruptions of Tungurahua volcano have been observed on 3-4 January 2002.
Latest Volcanic Ash Advisory from Washington stated ash was visible over the volcano on Friday 4 January at 1400 hr (UT). Ash visible to 16,000 ft moving North at less than 10 knots. A hotspot is visible on satellite imagery.
More on Tungurahua Volcano...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Friday January 4, 2002
The Kamoamoa ocean entry continues at its normal pace. This morning the bench is lighted by bright glow coming from lava pouring into the sea near the tip of the bench.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Afghanistan Earthquake (Magnitude 6.0)
Thursday January 3, 2002
Time 07:05:26 UTC , Location 36.04N 70.76E , Depth 119.5 kilometers.
The magnitude 6.0 quake was centered about 180 miles north of Peshawar, Pakistan, in the Hindu Kush mountain range of Afghanistan. The quake struck at 12:05 p.m. (local time) and was felt in the Pakistan capital of Islamabad, the northern city of Peshawar and the eastern city of Lahore. The earthquake rocked house foundations and jolted cities across 400 miles of Central and South Asia. Some damage and minor injuries were reported in the Afghan capital Kabul.
Volcanoes of Afghanistan...
Vanuatu Earthquake (Magnitude 7.2)
Thurdsay January 3, 2002
The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: A major earthquake occurred IN THE VANUATU ISLANDS about 30 miles (50 km) west of Port-Vila or about 1160 miles (1860 km) east-northeast of Brisbane, Australia at 10:22 AM MST today, Jan 2, 2002 (Jan 03 at 4:22 AM local time in Vanuatu Islands).
A small number of people were hospitalized with injuries from falling debris, but there were no immediate reports of deaths, officials said. A witness said huge boulders rolled down hillsides and into the harbor of the capital, Port Vila. One of several landslides blocked an access road to the capital's docks, and two bridges on its northern and southern outskirts were extensively damaged. Walls, floors and roofs of many buildings and homes were cracked in the town of 40,000. The port area has been totally cut off. There have been massive landslides. Rocks the size of buildings have come crashing down into the water. (AP).
Volcanic activity may increase after this earthquake.
Earthquakes of this size triggered volcanic eruptions in Vanuatu in 1974 and 1913.
Volcanoes of Vanuatu...