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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
August 2004
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (Reunion)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano
Sunday 29th August 2004
Volcanic tremor has doubled over the past week at Piton de la Fournaise volcano, but this has not been accompanied by any increase in lava emission. Lava entering the Indian Ocean has enlarged the land by 2 hectares. Last Friday night large traffic jams blocked the approaches to the lava flows, and free shuttle buses were provided every 15 minutes to help ease the problem. From the vehicle drop off point, there is about a 15 minute walk to reach the ocean entry location. Degassing at the summit region continues, and the upper slopes are closed to the public.
More on Piton de la Fournaise volcano...
Mt Elgon Volcano (Kenya)
1.13 N, 34.55 E, summit elevation 4321 m, Stratovolcano
Saturday 28th August 2004
Speculation over the status of Mt Elgon volcano continues. Reports of have been received of signs of volcanic activity at the previously considered extinct volcano. Renewed activity at previously considered extinct volcanoes is not uncommon. Evidence from the Hawaiian islands indicates that the shield volcanoes in the islands remain dormant for up to a million years before undergoing renewed eruptions. In the south Pacific, three volcanoes have erupted in Vanuatu since 1960's at volcanoes that were formerly considered extinct. Also in Chile, Chiliques volcano erupted in 2002 after being dormant for 8000 years.
Meanwhile, hundreds of families living near Mt Elgon, who fled the area early this week fearing a volcanic eruption, have returned to their homes. Kenya Airways had been informed of the dangers of using the route to Western destinations. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Kenya is taking the claims of renewed volcanic activity seriously, but has stated there is no reson to panic. A government official said "This is a surprise. We've always considered it extinct but predictions are not always accurate."
The latest findings of a team of geologists had failed to detect the reported volcanic activity at Kepsoi cave at the foothills of the mountain after carrying out tests. There is no crack in the cave and neither is there poisonous gas emissions, and stated that the pungent smell was a result of lack of air circulation. Geologists will continue monitor the situation and samples of rain water and water from nearby streams will be analysed for possible contamination. Temperatures in the cave had cooled off and no smoke was being emitted.
More on Mt Elgon Volcano...
Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (Reunion)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano
Saturday 28th August 2004
Lava flows at Piton de la Fournaise volcano reached the ocean on 25th August. On Thursday 26th August, lava raced down the mountain, setting fire to vegetation and exploding as it made contact with ocean. Strong sulphorous fumes were emitted creating a risk to observers. Buses have been transporting tourists to the viewing area, to avoid overloading the roads with traffic. The summit area of the volcano is closed to the public.
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Nyiragongo Volcano (Democratic Republic of Congo)
1.52 S, 29.25 E, summit elevation 3469 m, stratovolcano
Thursday 26th August 2004
Ongoing eruptions at Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira volcanoes is causing health problems for about 60,000 people. About 30,000 square kilometres of land west of the volcanoes has been destroyed by volcanic fallout. There is no vegetation, animals are dying and people are contracting stomach illnesses as well as respiratory and bone diseases. Fluoride overdoses are causing a variety of sickness and turning people's teeth transparent. Chloride is causing respiratory disorders. The emissions are also producing acid rain. In the last two years agricultural production decreased by an estimated 60 percent. 5,000 square-km of land in the nearby Virunga National Park has been affected, endangering chimpanzees and other wildlife.
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Mt Elgon Volcano (Kenya)
1.13 N, 34.55 E, summit elevation 4321 m, Stratovolcano
Tuesday 24th August 2004
Residents of Mt Elgon District in Western Kenya have been advised to avoid drinking rainwater as volcanic emissions increase at Mt Elgon. Experts have taken three samples of ash which has been settling around a cave since the emission of gases started two weeks ago. The emission of gases, which have a pungent smell, had intensified over recent days. A Kenyan geologist developed a sore throat after entering the cave which contained the emissions. The temperature in the active area was 170 deg C. Mt Elgon is located in western Kenya, and was formerly considered extinct.
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Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (Reunion)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano
Monday 23rd August, 2004
Lava flowed across the national road number 2 yesterday, at Piton de la Fournaise volcano in Reunion. Despite rainy weather, a crowd gathered to see the event at a safe distance behind barriers set up by the French police. A second flow, about a hundreds metres away is heading in the same direction. The lava flows are not far from entering the Indian Ocean. The current eruption of Piton de la Fournaise volcano began 10 days ago.
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Ulawun Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
5.04 S, 151.34 E, summit elevation 2334 m, stratovolcano
Monday 23rd August, 2004
A thin plume to 3km height was observed extending 110km SW of Ulawun volcano on 23rd August. Ulawun volcano is the highest in New Britain, and one of the most active in Papua New Guinea. The last large eruption of Ulawun volcano was in April 2001, when an ash cloud reached a height of 13.7 km.
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Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (Reunion)
21.22 S, 55.71 E, summit elevation 2631 m, shield volcano
Sunday 15th August 2004
Commencing on 4th August, there was an increase in volcanic seismicity at piton de la Fournaise volcano. Hundreds of small earthquakes were detected under the volcano every day. At 2:40 hr (local time) on Friday 13th August, the volcano erupted. Two fissures opened up, one inside Dolomieu crater, and the other on the flank of the same crater. Lava fountains were visible in the crater, and there was a 2 km long lava flow. The volcano has been closed to the public. This is the third eruption of Piton de la Fournaise volcano this year. The eruption is not large and the volcano observatory reports the situation is stable.
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Semeru Volcano (Indonesia)
8.10 S, 112.92 E, summit elevation 3676 m, Stratovolcano
Saturday 14th August 2004
Climbers have been temporarily banned from Climbing Mt Semeru volcano, after a larger than normal eruption on Wednesday, which ejected rocks over a radius of 700 m from the crater. No climbers were injured, but there is a possibility of further large events. In July 2000 there were two fatalities and several injuries when climbers were caught in an eruption at the summit of Mt Semeru. Semeru is the highest volcano in Java, and has been in almost continual eruption since 1967.
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Mt Spurr Volcano (Alaska)
61.30 N, 152.25 W, summit elevation 3374 m, stratovolcano
Friday 13th August 2004
A pilot reported possible ash emissions from Mt Spurr volcano at 1600 hr (UT) on Thursday 12th August. Ash was reported to cover an aircraft on the ground, and ash was possibly detected on satellite images, 20 nm wide and 60 nm long in a NNW direction. At 1800 hr (UT) another pilot observed the area and only saw steam emissions from the volcano. Alaska Volcano Observatory stated on Thursday, August 12, 2004 11:40 AM ADT (1940 UTC) "At this time we have no evidence that an eruption has occurred or is in progress."
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Marapi Volcano (Indonesia)
0.38 S, 100.47 E, summit elevation 2891 m, complex volcano
Saturday 7th August 2004
An increase in volcanic activity has been observed at Marapi volcano in Sumatra. Ash explosion sent grey to black ash column to a height of 500 – 1000 m above the summit. The last explosion was recorded on 5th August. The hazard level for the volcano has been increased to II (on a scale of I to IV). Visitors and villagers are requested not to climb the volcano until the situation returns back to normal.
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Kerinci Volcano (Indonesia)
1.69 S, 101.27 E, summit elevation 3805 m, stratovolcano
Saturday 7th August 2004
Yesterday, the hazard level for Kerinci volcano was raised to level II (on a I to IV scale), caused by an increase in volcanic activity.
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Pagan Volcano (Mariana Islands)
18.13 N, 145.80 E, summit elevation 570 m, stratovolcanoes
Wednesday 4th August 2004
Residents of Pagan Island in the northern Marianas have raised concern about an increase in visible emissions from the volcano. There are 20 people living on the island, which was the site of a large eruption in 1981. Currently the island is being considered for a business to mine pozzolan, which can be used to manufacture high-grade cement. There are no plans to evacuate the residents, but the Emergency Management Office of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas will send a a team to fly over the island to confirm the report.
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Kerinci Volcano (Indonesia)
1.69 S, 101.27 E, summit elevation 3805 m, stratovolcano
Wednesday 4th August 2004
Observations from the field have confirmed that there was an increase in volcanic activity at Kerinci volcano from July 24-31, 2004. Heavy ash has fallen in a 3km radius from the crater, and climbing to the peak is not advised until situation returns to normal.
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Tristan da Cunha Volcano (South Atlantic)
37.09 S, 12.28 W, summit elevation 2060 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday 3rd August 2004
A swarm of earthquakes struck Tristan da Cunha on 28th and 29th July 2004. The main swarm lasted about eight hours and was located 30km under the 1961 volcano. After the main swarm, there were a few individual earthquakes. The minor tremors were strong enough to shake ornaments on people's shelves, and there was a small land slide near the potato patches. Seismic activity has reduced since then. The Islanders attribute these tremors to the volcano settling, and they do not report any concern about this. The appropriate authorities in the UK have been informed. Tristan da Cunha is a hotspot volcano, located 400 km east of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The only historically recorded eruption of Tristan da Cunha volcano was in 1961, which forced the evacuation of the island.
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