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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
December 2002
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Stromboli Volcano (Italy)
38.79 N, 15.21 E, summit elevation 926 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday 31st December 2002
A 20 m high tsunami caused by the eruption of Stromboli volcano has overturned boats and flooded the village of Ginostra injuring at least six people, one of them seriously. Residents were temporarily evacuated by the Italian navy as a precaution.
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Stromboli Volcano (Italy)
38.79 N, 15.21 E, summit elevation 926 m, stratovolcano
Monday 30th December 2002
On 28 December the height of ejecta reached 200 m above NE Crater, and the shape of explosions suggested magma very close to the crater rim. This activity climaxed at 18:30 with a strong explosion that caused ash fallout on the village of Stromboli, accompanied by the opening of an eruptive fissure trending NE-SW. The fissure opened at the NE base of NE Crater. A lava flow came out from the base of the fissure, and formed three lava branches spreading within the Sciara del Fuoco. Within 30 minutes the flows reached the sea, about 1 km away.
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Semeru Volcano (Indonesia)
8.10 S, 112.92 E, summit elevation 3676 m, Stratovolcano
Monday 30th December 2002
Indonesian authorities have closed Java's highest volcano, Mount Semeru, to visitors and climbers following an outflow of lava and clouds of hot gas.
Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park Conservation Agency has banned all recreational activities in Semeru, including mountain climbing, following the flow of lava and heat clouds from the crater in past weeks. The ban has been effective since December 22 at the 3676 meter volcano in the densely populated province of East Java. The volcano began spewing lava and heat clouds last weekend. The lava went about 250m down the mountainside. No evacuations have been necessary.
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Mt Pago Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
5.58 S, 150.52 E, summit elevation 742 m, Caldera
Monday 30th December 2002
Although steam and fumes are still being emitted from Mt. Pago's upper and lower vents, since early November the volcano has settled down and no ash emissions have been observed recently. Lava continues to flow slowly from the northwestern-most vent of the fissure system, creating a significant lava field within Witori Caldera. Some volcanic earthquakes are still being recorded, but overall seismicity is at a low 'normal background' level for Witori Caldera. The ongoing eruptions in New Britain, which include Tavurvur Volcano at Rabaul in the east and Mt. Ulawun as well as Mt. Pago in the west, also pose a hazard to aviation, necessitating the diversion and cancellation of many flights.
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Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat)
16.72 N, 62.18 W, summit elevation 915 m, stratovolcano
Saturday 28th December 2002
Activity at the Soufrière Hills Volcano has remained at a high level over the past week. The seismograph network recorded 760 rockfall signals, 30 long- period rockfalls, 45 long-period earthquakes and 5 hybrid earthquakes. The active extrusion lobe on the northern side of the dome has continued to grow, giving rise to rockfalls and small to moderate-size pyroclastic flows across a broad sector of the north-eastern and northern flanks. Spectacular incandescence has been observed on most nights. Growth has been focused mainly towards the north-northeast, producing pyroclastic flows in White's Ghaut, the Tar River Valley and Tuitt's Ghaut.
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Bezymianny Volcano (Russia)
55.97 N, 160.58 E, summit elevation 2882 m, stratovolcano
Saturday 28th December 2002
An eruption continues at this time but the activity of the volcano has decreased. Probably a lava flow is pressing out at the active lava dome of the volcano. According to seismic data, at 19:15 UTC on December 25, a large explosive eruption began at the volcano. A possible ash column rose at least 5 km ASL (16,400 ft). Clouds obscured the volcano at the time of the eruption
beginning. SUMMARY OF LEVEL OF CONCERN COLOR CODES FOR BEZYMIANNY: ORANGE
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Bezymianny Volcano (Russia)
55.97 N, 160.58 E, summit elevation 2882 m, stratovolcano
Thursday 26th December 2002
A large explosive eruption began at the volcano at 19:15 UTC on December 25, according to seismic data, The eruption continues at this time. A possible ash column rose at least 5 km ASL (16,400 ft). Clouds currently obscure the volcano. Snow is falling at Klyuchi 65 km north of Bezymianny. Ashfall has been reported at Kozyrevsk 55 km northwest of the volcano since 21:10 UTC December 25.
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Mt Etna Volcano (Italy)
37.73 N, 15.00 E, summit elevation 3350 m, Shield volcano
Thursday 26th December 2002
The lava emitted at the base of the 2700 m cone has two branches at 2600 m. The lava advances of 12 meters per minute. Explosive activity continues from the new cone at 2750 m sending bombs to 200 m high and ash to 5000 m. Volcanic tremor continues at Mt Etna.
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Bezymianny Volcano (Russia)
55.97 N, 160.58 E, summit elevation 2882 m, stratovolcano
Thursday 26th December 2002
An eruption is likely in progress at Bezymianny Volcano. According to satellite data from Russia, at 01:21 UTC on December 25, a very hot plume (probably containing ash) extending >15 km to the west from the volcano was observed in MODIS-satellite image. According to satellite data from AVO, at 03:57 UTC on December 25, the length of the plume was >200 km.
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Popocatepetl Volcano (Mexico)
19.023 N, 98.622 W, summit elevation 5426 m, stratovolcanoes
Wednesday 25th December 2002
Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano spewed vapor and ash more than a mile (two kilometers) into the air Monday, coating four surrounding communities with a gray powder, Mexico's National Disaster Prevention Agency reported. A series of small explosions near the core of the 17,886-foot (5,452-meter) volcano propelled a column of ash 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) into the air and sent a fine powder raining down on nearby towns. Popocatepetl has been especially active since last week and that scientists are predicting stronger activity and low-level seismic tremors in coming days.
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Rift Valley Earthquake (Mag 5.0)
Tuesday 24th December 2002
Location: 130 miles (210 km) WSW of Nairobi, Kenya. (Kenya -Tanzania border)
1.79S 34.99E , Depth 10.0 kilometers
An earth tremor at dawn yesterday caused fear in Nakuru Town, Nairobi and Nyamira.
The residents were woken up, not knowing what to make of the early morning jolt.
In Nakuru, the tremor, which occurred shortly before 6am, lasted less than 30 seconds and was felt in several estates in the town. The tremor was felt in Nairobi, too. Apartments on Ngong Road were jolted.
Volcanoes of Kenya...
Volcanoes of Tanzania...
Mt Etna Volcano (Italy)
37.73 N, 15.00 E, summit elevation 3350 m, Shield volcano
Tuesday 24th December 2002
The past few days at Mount Etna have been characterized by a relatively regular prosecution of the eruptive activity on the upper southern flank. The main focus of activity is the enormous pyroclastic cone that stands now more than 150 m above the pre-eruption surface at 2750 m; explosive activity has occurred from up to two vents at the summit of this cone and alternated between largely ash-free Strombolian bursts and more copious ash emissions with intermittent lava fountains. Lava has continued to issue from a vent on the southern base of the cone and during the past three days fed three main flows.
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Mt Etna Volcano (Italy)
37.73 N, 15.00 E, summit elevation 3350 m, Shield volcano
Tuesday 3rd December 2002
A new rain of ash over Catania and surrounding areas occurred on the afternoon of 1 December 2002, forcing the renewed closure of the Fontanarossa International Airport of Catania. Meanwhile, explosive activity continued at two vents on the upper southern flank of Mount Etna, and lava issued from a third vent on the southwestern base of the large pyroclastic cone formed during the first five weeks of activity.
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Kanlaon Volcano (Philippines)
10.41 N, 123.13 E, summit elevation 2435 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday 3rd December 2002
Small eruption at Kanlaon volcano, Philippines. At 0721 on 28 November, Philippine volcano Kanlaon [Canlaon] emitted an ash puff that rose about 100m a.c. (above crater), accompanied by a volcanic tremor. Immediately following this event was the moderate emission of white to dirty steam clouds. Since then, more normal white steam emissions have been noted, as well as a few volcanic earthquakes. Phreatic explosions without warning are a possibility here.
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