October 2010 Volcano News | John Seach

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Reports by John Seach

Reports are posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT +10 hr).
Archived Volcano News

Sunday 31st October 2010
Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

Eruptions continue at Merapi volcano, Indonesia. People have been asked to remain in evacuation centres, and flights may be disrupted from Adisucipto International Airport Yogyakarta. Volcanic activity is still high with 38 lava avalanches occurring between midnight and 3 pm yesterday. An eruption column reached 3 km above the summit. Pyroclastic flows extended down the south, southwest , and western slopes of the volcano, with a maximum runout distance of 7 km. Ashfall was reported 20 km from the volcano. At 00:50 hr yesterday there was an explosion at the summit of Merapi which affected a radius of 2 km from the volcano. The explosion earthquake was felt by people at Srumbung village, 12 km from the volcano. At 0:35 hr yesterday there was a large pyroclastic flow recorded which lasted for 22 minutes, and flowed in the direction of K. Gendol, K. Kuning, K. Krasak, and K. Boyong. At 0:16 hours yesterday a pyroclastic flow lasted 7 minutes and flowed towards K. Lamat, K. Senowo, and K. Krasak. The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation in Indonesia reports that a major eruption is possible.
More on Merapi volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Saturday 30th October 2010
Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

An eruption occurred at Merapi volcano, Indonesia at 1:00 am this morning. Two people were taken to hospital with injuries. Merapi volcano has killed 34 people since it began erupting on Tuesday. There is a 10 km exclusion zone around the volcano, and 47,000 people have been evacuated. Between midday and 6pm yesterday the seismic activity was high at the volcano and 97 earthquake avalanches recorded, bringing the total to 285 since the start of the eruption. Three pyroclastic flows were recorded with a runout distance of 1 km.
More on Merapi volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Saturday 30th October 2010
Krakatau Volcano, Indonesia

Activity has increased at Krakatau volcano, Indonesia. Over the past 4 days there has been an increase in explosions at the volcano. Yesterday there were 136 eruptions at the volcano, compared to a recent average of 10 per day. Krakatau volcano has been raised to level 2 alert.
More on Krakatau volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Saturday 30th October 2010
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion

Renewed activity occurred at Piton de la Fournaise volcano, Reunion on Wednesday 27th October. Seismic activity increased sharply at 14:30 hours, which was four times the intensity of the preceding days. Volcano-tectonic earthquakes were recorded, which indicated new magma injection into the system. This was followed by new eruptions from a cone on the southeast flank of the volcano, and a lava flows at its base. A significant increase in tremor and new eruptive activity may suggest the beginning of a second eruptive phase at the volcano beginning on 27th October.
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...

Friday 29th October 2010
Sheveluch Volcano, Kamchatka

Explosive and effusive eruptions continue at Sheveluch volcano in Kamchatka. On 28th October ash emissions reached a height of 23,000 ft. Seismic activity began to increase on 26th October, and a strong paroxysmal explosive eruption at the volcano occurred from 14:00 until 20:40 UTC on 27th October. The ash column reached a height of 40,000 ft. Satellite images showed the ash plumes extending 2,500 km east from the volcano on 27-28 October. Ashfall occurred at Ust-Kamchatsk from 18:00 UTC on 27th October until 03:00 UTC on 28th October. The airport and road from Ust-Kamchatsk to Kluchi were closed. The volcano is at level RED alert.
More on Sheveluch volcano...
Volcanoes of Kamchatka...

Friday 29th October 2010
Klyuchevskoy Volcano, Kamchatka

Explosive and effusive eruptions continue at Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka. Strombolian activity occurred all week. Ash plumes reached heights of 26,200-29,500 ft on 22-25, and 27 October. Two lava flows effused from the summit crater and extended down the western and south-western flanks of the volcano. Ash plumes extended over 2300 km east of the volcano all week. The volcano is at level RED alert.
More on Klyuchevskoy volcano...
Volcanoes of Kamchatka...

Thursday 28th October 2010
Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

A new eruption occurred at Merapi volcano, Indonesia at 4:30 pm on 28th October. Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre reported that a high level eruption was observed from the ground. The eruptions this week have been explosive which is different from that experienced in recent times. The eruption of Merapi volcano on Tuesday produced a vertical blast which reached a height of 1.5 km. This is the first time that this type of eruption has been observed at the volcano. Eruptions of Merapi volcano during the 7–19th centuries A.D. were more violent than the past hundred years, and produced explosion pyroclastic flows. In 2001 scientists predicted that the quiet of the 20th century would be broken by a larger explosive eruption in the coming decades. It is possible that the eruption of Merapi on Tuesday was precipitated by the magnitude 7.7 Sumatran earthquake a few hours earlier. The last eruption of Merapi volcano in 2006 occurred soon after a nearby tectonic earthquake.
More on Merapi volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Wednesday 27th October 2010
Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

Merapi volcano, Indonesia erupted yesterday afternoon, killing 13 people. The death toll is likely to rise. The volcano was placed on the highest level alert on Monday after an increase in pre eruption signals were detected. Merapi is one of the world's most active and hazardous volcanoes. It produces more pyroclastic flows than any other volcano, and a large population lives on its slopes.
More on Merapi volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Tuesday 26th October 2010
Indonesia Earthquake (Mag 7.7)

A major earthquake (magnitude 7.7) occurred off the west coast of Sumatra Indonesia on 25th October at 9:42 pm local time. The epicentre was located in the Mentawai Islands, 280 km south of Padang. The focus was at a depth of 20 km and a small tsunami was generated which damaged some boats. Earthquakes of this magnitude can disrupt nearby volcanoes. Volcanoes in the area include Kerinci, Sumbing, Talang, and Marapi.
More on Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Monday 25th October 2010
Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

Merapi volcano, Indonesia was raised to the highest level 4 alert today. At least 40,000 people have been advised to evacuate from a 10 km radius around the volcano. About 500 volcanic earthquakes were recorded over the weekend. Magma has been rising towards the surface and is about a kilometre below the crater. High risk zones are on the southern, southeastern and eastern slopes of the volcano. At the end of September inflation rate of the volcano was measured at 6 mm/day. On 24th October the inflation rate was 420 mm/day. Since the alert level was raised last week there has been increasing incidence of a glowing lava dome. Some lava avalanches can be heard from the observation post. Level 4 alert means an eruption is possible within 24 hours.
More on Merapi volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Sunday 24th October 2010
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion

Eruption at Piton de la Fournaise volcano is stable. There has been no new injection of magma into the system. Lava continues to flow towards the southeast. A significant decrease in the emission rates of magmatic gases has been recorded. Volcanic tremor is lower than at the beginning of the eruption.
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...

Sunday 24th October 2010
Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

Since Merapi volcano was upgraded to level 3 alert on 21st October, the volcano has showed increasing activity. All monitoring methods such as deformation, seismology and gas emissions have indicated an eruption is imminent. There is an exclusion zone of 8 km around the volcano. Tourists are forbidden to climb the volcano.
More on Merapi volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Saturday 23rd October 2010
Klyuchevskoy Volcano, Russia

Explosive eruptions continue at Klyuchevskoy Volcano, Kamchatka. During the last week there has been increased activity, and ash plumes have reached a height of 30,000 ft above sea level and extended 300 km north of the volcano. The volcano is currently at the highest level RED alert.
More on Klyuchevskoy volcano...
Volcanoes of Kamchatka...

Saturday 23rd October 2010
Merapi Volcano, Indonesia

Merapi volcano in Indonesia is showing signs of unrest. The volcano has been raised to level 3 alert (out of a maximum 4) due to inflation and volcanic earthquakes. Sand miners have been asked to stop all activity, and people have been advised not to climb the volcano. The last eruption of Merapi volcano in 2006 killed 2 people.
More on Merapi volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Monday 18th October 2010
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion

Since Sunday there has been a 30% decrease in eruption at Piton de la Fournaise volcano. Lava flow has reduced and now only effuses from one cone. Information collected from the volcano observatory indicates the eruption might be coming to an end. The volume of lava emitted so far is 600,000 cubic m, which is similar in size to eruptions since 2007 which have all been less than a million cubic m.
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...

Monday 18th October 2010
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion

Lava at Piton de la Fournaise volcano has flowed 1.6 km at an average speed of 40 m/hour. Lava fountains are occurring from two cones. No more earthquakes have been recorded by the observatory. Many tourists are viewing the eruption. This is the most spectacular eruption at the volcano since 2007.
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...

Saturday 16th October 2010
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion

Eruption continues at Piton de la Fournaise volcano, Reunion. Volcanic activity consists of small lava fountains along an eruptive fissure which is feeding a lava flow that progresses towards the east-southeast. A team from the Volcano Observatory of Piton de la Fournaise visited the site of the eruption with helicopter. Observations made on site throughout the day, show stable volcanic activity of moderate intensity. At the same time, other geophysical parameters measured by the observatory have also remained stable. The eruptive tremor (vibration related to the flow of magma) continued all day with minor variations in intensity. Four cones were formed along the eruptive fissure. The lava fountain activity focused primarily on three of the cones. Several streams of lava emerged at the base of the cones and formed a single flow that traveled about 1.6 km towards the east-southeast. This lava flow is fed slowly but steadily. The topography of the area allows the lava flow to spread out (on average 2 meters thick). The temperatures measured at the main points of eruption of lava are about 1100 deg C. Significant quantities of volcanic gases were emitted from the eruptive vents.
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...

Friday 15th October 2010
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion

An eruption began at Piton de la Fournaise volcano, Reunion at 7:10 pm (local time) on 14th October. The eruption site was located at an elevation of 2000 m on the southern side of the volcano. The events have accelerated in the early afternoon. The seismic crisis (characterized by numerous earthquakes at the base of the volcano) began at 1:30 p.m. It peaked at about 3 pm. A larger than average earthquake occurred at 2:50 pm, which resulted in collapse of the inner walls of Dolomieu crater. The seismic crisis, which reflects the rise of magma in the volcano edifice, has slowed after 3 pm. According to information provided by the Volcano Observatory, the eruption took place near the site known as "Château-Fort".
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...

Friday 15th October 2010
Santa Maria Volcano, Guatemala

On 13th October explosions at Santa Maria volcano, Guatemala produced ash emissions 600 m above the crater. Seismic measurements registered explosions and avalanches.
More on Santa Maria volcano...
Volcanoes of Guatemala...

Thursday 14th October 2010
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion

On 11th October, the Observatory at Piton de la Fournaise volcano registered 82 earthquakes. The magnitude of the largest earthquake was 2.5 (not felt by the population). The earthquake focus remained localized at the base of Piton de la Fournaise, between sea level and surface. Since 11th October, larger magnitude earthquakes and landslides occurred within the summit crater Dolomieu. Inflation of of Piton de la Fournaise continues especially in the summit region. A possible increase in gas emissions at the summit of the volcano was recorded.
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...

Friday 1st October 2010
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion

High levels of seismicity continues at Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion. On 29th September 33 earthquakes were measured. The magnitude of the largest earthquake was 1.7 (not felt by the population). A significant number of landslides have occurred at Dolomieu crater (33/day) with an average volume significantly higher compared to previous days. Inflation of the edifice of Piton de la Fournaise has occurred particularly its eastern portion. An increase in summit crater fumaroles has been observed.
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...