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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
September 2003
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Lewotobi Volcano (Indonesia)
8.53 S, 122.77 E, summit elevation 1703 m, stratovolcanoes
Monday 29th September, 2003
At least 565 villagers living on the slopes of Mount Lewotobi in Wulanggitang subdistrict, East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara, have experienced respiratory problems and skin diseases following an August 31 eruption of the volcano. The villages on the slopes of the volcano had been affected by sulfur and volcanic dust from the eruption.
More on Lewotobi Volcano...
Mt Fuji Volcano (Japan)
35.35 N, 138.73 E, summit elevation 3776 m, Stratovolcano
Saturday 27th September 2003
Japanese seismologists said on Friday they had detected faint streams of steam rising from Mount Fuji. Very weak steam has been detected from three small vents at about the middle level of the mountain's northeastern side in the past five days. Two of the holes were found in a small area of subsidence, 15 meters (50 feet) by 10 metres and up to 30 centimetres deep. There were also three smaller patches of subsidence in the area. The Meteorological Agency will continue to monitor temperatures around the vents. The event is unrelated to the magnitude 8 earthquake which hit northern Japan yesterday.
The 3776 metre high Mount Fuji, last erupted in 1707 and has been under scrutiny since 2000 when low-frequency tremors started to be felt there, confirming that the mountain is still an active volcano.
More on Mt Fuji Volcano...
Japan Earthquake (Magnitude 8.0)
Friday 26th September 2003
A major earthquake hit the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido this morning. The earthquake killed one person and injured 300. The earthquake's epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean, about 100 kilometers off Hokkaido's eastern shore. The earthquake derailed a train and started a fire at an oil refinery. Small tsunamis, up to one meter high, hit some coastal areas, and 41,000 people reportedly fled from their homes. A strong aftershock measuring 7 on the Richter scale was felt 77 minutes later.
Date/Time: Friday, September 26, 2003 at 04:50:07 AM local time at epicenter.
Location 41.85N 143.77E, Depth 33.0 km.
This region marks the position where the Pacific plate begins to descend beneath Japan. Near the earthquake, the Pacific plate is moving west at a rate of about 8.2 cm per year relative to Eurasia.
Volcanoes of Japan...
Stromboli Volcano (Italy)
38.79 N, 15.21 E, summit elevation 926 m, stratovolcano
Wednesday 24th September 2003
Volcanology officials conducted a helicopter overflight of Stromboli volcano on 23rd September. Small Strombolian activity was observed at summit crater A. The projectiles reached an elevation of 30m above the crater and a distance of 100m towards the north. Crater C on the Ginostra side of the mountain was emitting ash. The activity of monitoring COSPEC has measured 540 t/day SO2 emissions.
More on Stromboli Volcano...
Anatahan Volcano (Mariana Islands)
16.35 N, 145.67 E, summit elevation 788 m, Stratovolcano
Sunday 21st September 2003
Since late June, volcanic activity at Anatahan has continued at low levels, exhibiting principally volcanic tremor. The level of activity could quite possibly increase abruptly, and there is a remote chance that Anatahan could erupt again in the near future with a moderate explosive eruption that could result in far-reaching eruption clouds and ash fall. This underscores the need to closely monitor the volcano.
More on Anatahan Volcano...
Lewotobi Volcano (Indonesia)
8.53 S, 122.77 E, summit elevation 1703 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday 2nd September 2003
Residents are preparing to leave at least seven villages in Indonesia's remote Flores island after a volcano spewed ash over their homes and crops. Lewotobi volcano erupted on Sunday night and officials were preparing an evacuation on Monday. Many crops in the seven villages had been damaged by ash.
More on Lewotobi Volcano...