Volcano Live
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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
December 2004
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Friday 31st December 2004
Earthquake and tsunami toll exceeds 120,000.
Indonesia 79,940 deaths, 1 to 3 million affected.
Sri Lanka 24,673 deaths, 6,589 missing, 888,000 displaced, 12,482 injured, 1.5 million affected.
India 10,850 deaths.
Thailand 2,000 deaths, 3,000 injured.
Somalia 120 deaths, 50,000 displaced.
Burma (Myanmar) 90 deaths.
Malaysia 65 deaths, 50 missing, 100 injured, 8,000 displaced.
Maldives 54 deaths, 61 missing, approximately 223,957 affected.
Tanzania 10 deaths.
Bangladesh 2 deaths.
Seychelles 1 death.
Kenya 1 death.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Thursday 30th December 2004
Volcanic activity has decreased at Manam volcano, but the volcano still remains dangerous. A bright red crater glow is still visible at the summit indicating that the magma column is high. An explosive eruption could send glowing lava bombs on to the volcano's flanks. Manam volcano activity has been reaching a peak about the middle of every month which may be related to the phase of the moon creating tidal pressure on the volcano. Seismograph recordings are showing continuing volcanic tremor, which is consistant with magma movenment under the volcano. Roaring noises have been heard coming from the summit, which indicates high gas pressure inside the mountain.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Thursday 30th December 2004
The death toll has reached 100,000 people from the great earthquake and tsunami. Over 5 million people have been left homeless. The earthquake caused a shift of mass towards the Earth’s centre and increasing the spin of the earth by one millionth of a second and changing the earth's tilt by an inch. The subduction of the India plate under the Burma plate shifted mass towards the centre, making the earth more compact. As a result days will get shorter by a fraction of a second. Wildlife officials in Sri Lanka said they believed animals sensed the tsunamis were on their way and fled to higher ground. No dead animals have been found.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Thursday 30th December 2004
The death toll from the great earthquake and tsunami has reached 80,000.
Indonesia 45,000 |
Malasia 65 |
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Thursday 30th December 2004
The great earthquake of the 26th December was so powerful that is moved the Nicobar Islands and Simeulue Island further out to sea. The amount of island shift will be confirmed using precise GPS measurements. Large earthquakes can create large volcanic eruptions within an 800 km radius of the earthquake epicenter. Some active volcanoes near the earthquake epicenter are Barren Island (Andaman Islands), and many on Sumatra including Peuet Sague, Telong, Toba, Sorikmarapi, Marapi, Tandikat, Talang, Kerinci, Kaba, Dempo, and Krakatoa in the Sunda Strait.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Wednesday 29th December 2004
The earthquake and tsunami toll has risen to 68,000. Sea level fluctuations were registered in the Pacific Ocean. The energy transfer was probably via the southern ocean, south of the Australian continent. Measured crest to trough Pacific sea level fluctuations were:
260 cm at Manzanillo, Mexico.
65 cm at Jackson Bay, New Zealand.
50 cm at Callao, Chile.
50 cm at Waitangi Chatham Island, New Zealand.
22 cm at San Diego, USA
19 cm at Iqiquique, Chile.
18 cm at Port Vila, Vanuatu.
13 cm at Pago Pago, American Samoa.
11 cm at Suva, Fiji.
6 cm at Hilo, Hawaii.
Small sea level changes will continue to be observed for a few days as the energy from the earthquake dissipates.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Wednesday 29th December 2004
Manam volcano alert has been downgraded to level 2. No ash plume was visible on satellite images.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Tuesday 28th December 2004
Earthquake related waves have been measured along the Pacific coasts of the USA, Mexico and South America.
The great earthquake caused multi-ocean tsunamis, which were the first recorded since those caused by the eruption of Krakatoa volcano in 1883. A tsunami warning system is in place in the Pacific where 80 per cent of the world's tsunamis are recorded. The Indian an Atlantic Oceans do not have an tsunami warning system. A network of tidal gauges and seismographs linked by satellites to a warning control centre could alert emergency services in threatened countries. Monitoring volcanic activity is another important part of tsunami preparadness. Large tsunamis can follow volcanic eruptions.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Tuesday 28th December 2004
Earthquake update.
The death toll from the earthquake and tsunami has reached 24,000.
Tamil Nadu is the worst affected state of India with over 2,367 people killed. At least 69 people were killed and 810 are missing after tsunamis affected 1,000 km coastline of Andra Pradesh. In Andaman and Nicobar islands more than 3,000 have been killed. In Kerala, the toll has risen to 131.
Affected areas in Indonesia are Aceh Province and North Sumatra Province. In Indonesia 4,712 people were killed, 303 people are missing and 50,000 people displaced due to the earthquake and tsunami.
In Malaysia 53 people have been killed, a further 34 are reported missing and scores more have suffered injuries. Penang suffered most (with 38 of the fatalities) followed by Kedah. Some affects were also experienced in Perlis and Perak.
In the Maldives two thirds of the population are affected. Government sources confirm 52 deaths; 73 reported missing and the capital’s hospitals received 160 injured people. About 100,000 are severely affected and have suffered considerable damage to dwellings. A preliminary estimate indicates that about 50% (25,000) of houses across the country have been affected.
In Sri Lanka over 12,000 people have been killed.
In Thailand 431 people have died, over 5,000 have been injured, and tens of thousands are stranded. Phuket was declared an emergency area. Some islands, including Phi Phi, were completely washed out.
Hundreds of people died in the central and northeastern coastal area of Somalia, and many coastal villages and towns have been destroyed or submerged by the tsunamis.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Monday 27th December 2004
The death toll from the great Sumatra earthquake has reached 22,000. Tidal surges caused by an earthquake off Indonesia have hit the Western Australian coast as far south as Busselton, more than 200 kilometers south of Perth. Sri Lanka has made an urgent appeal through its foreign embassies for food, medical supplies, generators and other assistance to help the country hard hit by the tsunami. 3,000 people have been killed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, which was near the earthquake epicenter. Aftershocks continue to hit the Indonesia-India region, raising the possibility of more tidal surges.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Monnday 27th December 2004
About 11,460 people were killed Sunday, and tens of thousands left homeless in six countries after the largest earthquake in the world in 40 years. At least 4,185 people were killed in Indonesia. Waves as high as 10 meters (33 feet) struck tourist resorts in Thailand, Malaysia, the Andaman Islands and the Maldives. In Sri Lanka one million people were affected by the surging seawater that flooded coastal towns and Colombo. Huge waves swept some 7,000 kilometres from Sumatra in Indonesia before crashing on to the shores of Kenya and Somalia, affecting the islands of Mauritius, Reunion and the Seychelles on the way. In Kenya, people were evacuated from beaches. Officials in Mombasa forcefully evacuated more than 10,000 holiday-makers, who were celebrating Christmas on public beaches there, but a 20-year-old Kenyan man drowned off the nearby coastal town of Malindi. The earthquake was centered in the Indian Ocean about 149 kilometres (92.38 miles) south of Meulaboh, a town on the western coast of Aceh, Indonesia. Port Blair airport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands was damaged and it will not be operational for at least a month. The earthquake was caused when a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) section along the boundary of the tectonic plates shifted.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Great Earthquake (Indonesia) - Magnitude 9.3
Sunday 26th December 2004
A great earthquake occurred off the north coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake hit on Sunday, December 26, 2004 at 6:58:50 AM (local time). Reports from Sri Lanka indicate 500 people have been killed by tsunamis which resulted from the earthquake. This is the equal 5th largest earthquake in the world in the past 100 years. Parts of the north-eastern districts of Muttur and Trincomalee were hit by waves as high as 20 feet. At least 18 people were killed and more than 400 fishermen were missing in India from tsunamis.
Volcanoes of Indonesia...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Sunday 26th December 2004
Volcanic activity at Manam volcano remains high. Ash emissions have reached 20,000 ft. The volcano remains at level 3 alert. The aviation colour code is red.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Great Earthquake (North of Macquarie Island) - Magnitude 8.1
Friday 24th December 2004
A great earthquake occurred 495 km north of Macquarie Island (Australia) on Friday, December 24, 2004 at 1:59 a.m. local time. It was located at 50.240° S, 160.133° E, at a depth of 10 km. The earthquake was felt in Hobart, Tasmania and parts of the south island of New Zealand. Macquarie Island is an Australian territory located 1500 km south-east of Tasmania. It is the only island in the world composed entirely of oceanic crust and rocks from the mantle. The island group, with mountains rising 400 m above sea level, became a World Heritage site in 1997. This was an intra plate earthquake. The last earthquake of similar magnitude in the Macquarie Rise region was in 1924. This was the largest earthquake in the world this year. Earthquakes of this magnitude can produce tsunamis.
Volcanoes of Australia...
Volcanoes of Antarctica...
Fuego Volcano (Guatemala)
14.47 N, 90.88 W, summit elevation 3763 m, stratovolcano
Friday 24th December 2004
Steam and ash vented from Fuego volcano on 23rd December at 1315 ht (UT). Satellite images showed a plume extending 50 miles from the summit. Hotspot activity was also visible on satellite images. On 21st December, roaring sounds were heard at the volcano like the sound of a jet engine. The sounds were constant between the 9:34 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., and many others of 1 to 4 minutes duration happened in the afternoon and night at intervals of 15 to 25 minutes. A lava flow (3 m wide, 200 m long) was located on the south flank of the volcano, and caused loose incandescent blocks to fall towards the head of the ravine of the Taniluyá River.
More on Fuego volcano...
Anatahan Volcano (Mariana Islands)
16.35 N, 145.67 E, summit elevation 788 m, Stratovolcano
Thursday 23rd December 2004
A pilot has reported ash emission from Anatahan volcano today, however no ash is visible on satellite images. The eruption remains unconfirmed. The last visual report was on 29th October, when minor steam and ash were seen rising 30-60 m above the crater, and a sulphur dioxide smell was detectable within 1.5 km of the crater. Although the volcano is not currently dangerous to aircraft, an eruption may occur without warning, and aircraft should pass upwind of Anatahan or farther than 30 km downwind from the island. The first recorded eruption from Anatahan volcano was in 2003.
More on Anatahan volcano...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Thursday 23rd December 2004
Lava has stopped entering the sea at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. On the coastal flat, lava is visible within 500 m of the sea, and higher on the mountain at 600 ft and 1700 ft elevations.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Thursday 23rd December 2004
Eruptions continue at Manam volcano with ash to a height of between 15,000 and 30,000 ft. A donation of 24 thousand water purification tablets has been made to the Manam evacuees. People displaced by the eruption are living in temporary shelters, and are at risk of water-borne disease. Relief agencies have not be able to meet the needs of the thousands evacuated from the island. The volcano remains at level 3 alert, and larger eruptions are possible. Report copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Monday 20th December 2004
The alert level has been increased to 3 (out of 4) at Manam volcano after a large eruption of ash occurred on Sunday 19th December. Ash was calculated to have reached an altitude of 50,000 ft, and drifted 250 nautical miles WSW of Manam. The ash cloud dissipated after about 12 hours. This sequence of events indicates that Manam volcano is still dangerous, and there is a possibility of continued large eruptions which threatens the safety of anyone still on the island. The aviation colour code is red, indicating the volcano is currently erupting. Report copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Sunday 19th December 2004
Eruptions are continuing at Manam volcano in Papua New Guinea. Today, ash emissions reached 20,000 ft and were visible on satellite images 50 nautical miles to the west of the island. The volcano remains at stage 2 alert (out of 4 levels). The aviation colour code is red. Manam is the most active volcano in PNG. Frequent eruptions have been reported since 1616. A series of large eruptions beginning in October 2004 forced the population to relocate to the mainland.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Thursday 16th December 2004
Moderate eruptions continue at Manam volcano today. An ash cloud reached 20,000 ft and drifted west at speed of 8 knots. Ongoing eruptions continue to deposit large amounts of ash on the island. The summit region of the volcano was already steep and bare before the current series of eruptions. Heavy ashfall, lava flows, and scoria deposits from the current eruption will make the summit region dangerously unstable for an extended period of time.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Thursday 16th December 2004
Strong eruptions continue at Manam volcano in Papua New Guinea. At 5:44 am today (local time) there was an ash plume visible on satellite photos stretching 100 nautical miles WNW of the volcano. The ash reached 15,000 ft elevation and drifted at a rate of 10 knots. There has been some debate over whether the people of Manam needed to be evacuated. This uninformed debate doesn't help the situation. The situation is quite clear. There is no food left on the island to support the population. People cannot survive there under the current situation. There is over 1 metre depth of ash deposited on the island. This ash combined with heavy rains is producing dangerous mudflows. Mudflows have already washed 6 people into the sea. The volcanic activity is extremely dangerous, and has already resulted in some deaths before the evacuations took place. The role of the volcanologist is not to predict whether Manam will have larger eruptions or not. The main role in this situation is to foresee hazardous events. The whole Island is at risk of life threatening hazardous events, therefore evacuation of the island was justified. It is to be hoped that volcanic activity will decline over time, and the people can return to at least a partial resettlement of the island. The best case scenario might not be possible for up to 2 years due to the destruction of food gardens. There is also a less encouraging possibility, that Manam volcano has entered a period of much more dangerous activity, and return to the island will be not be possible for an extended period. One thing is certain, the evacuation of the Manam population has removed a large number of people from an extremely hazardous situation. After all, saving lives is the number one priority. Let's hope that the humanitarian relief can now deal with the situation. It would be distressing to think that deaths will occur on the mainland in the evacuation camps due to hunger and disease. More still needs to be done to ease the situation at the camps. This report is copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Monday 13th December 2004
Manam volcano continues to erupt with an ash cloud to 15,000 ft altitude. The aviation alert level has been upgraded to red, which means an eruption is in progress. Stronger eruptions are possible. A hotspot was visible on satellite images, indicating the proximity of magma to the surface.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Soputan Volcano (Indonesia)
1.11 N, 124.73 E, summit elevation 1784 m, stratovolcano
Monday 13th December 2004
Soputan volcano erupted at 5 am Sunday 12th December. The eruption sent high level ash NW to an altitude of 35,000 ft. A lower level ash cloud drifted NE. The nearby town of Tomohon, 10 kilometers northeast of Soputan, was covered in a thin layer of ash.
More on Soputan Volcano...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Sunday 12th December 2004
The face of disaster - photos from Manam Island...
The eruptions at Manam Island have been occurring from the Main Crater. The South Crater has been emitting large amounts of steam, but has not shown high levels of activity. Volcanic activity at Manam has been centered at Southern Crater for the past 12 years. The 2004 eruptions mark a return to the paroxysmal eruptions last seen at Main Crater in 1992. The volcano is still erupting with ash emissions and the possibility of larger eruptions. The situation of the evacuees at the mainland camps will be made easier if international assistance is given. The people at the evacuation camps are removed from volcanic danger, but they face the risk of health problems. Some health risks are malaria, cough, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and ear and eye infections from the volcanic ash. Respiratory problems were noticed by the John Seach during a visit to the evacuation camps. Medical supplies are limited in the Bogia district, and people have little ability to pay for medical treatment. Some international assistance of blankets was inappropriately given. The area is only 4 degrees from the equator, so hypothermia is not a problem. Food, water, shelter and medicine are the immediate priorities. The international community has been caught sleeping when it comes to this disaster. Report copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Saturday 11th December 2004
Eruptions continue at Manam volcano. Manam volcano is in stage 2 alert (out of 4). Aviation colour code has been reduced to "orange", which means that a volcanic eruption is in progress but ash emissions are below 25,000 ft elevation. Larger eruptions are possible. Report copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Friday 10th December 2004
Manam disaster situation.
Volcanic disasters of this magnitude only occur in the world every few years. Manam volcano is located in a remote part of the world for most donor countries. The island is about 250 km from the nearest phone, and visitors rarely travel to the area. The author of this website was the first volcanologist on the scene, and has been trying to bring it to the attention of the world's media. The humanitarian situation for the Manam people doesn't look good unless some outside assistance is received. A few days ago I visited an evacuation camp for victims of the 1996 pyroclastic flows which killed 13 people. Eight years later the evacuees children have still not been to school due to the poverty associated with the loss of houses, crops, and no chance to generate income. The future of 9600 people from the current disaster looks equally poor. Volcanic crisis management needs to have an international focus. Academic study of volcanic eruptions is useless unless the humanitarian assistance matches the eruption crisis. Update on volcanic activity - Thousands of people are still standing on beaches on the island, waiting for rescue. The volcano continues to erupt, covering the island with ash, and mud flows continue to put lives at risk. Report copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Thursday 9th December 2004
Evacuation people from Manam Island continues due to ongoing volcanic activity. The evacuation began last week and is expected to take 2 weeks. About 4000 people still on the island waiting for rescue are in critical need of food and water. The international response has been totally inadequate for a disaster of this magnitude. Once the island is evacuated, the emergency response will shift to the mainland, where three evacuee camps have been set up. The local authorities on the mainland are struggling to cope with an estimated 9000 evacuees in an area with a total population of only 40,000. A lack of clean water, sanitation, food and shelter is posing ongoing problems at the camps. There is a high risk of disease affecting the evacuees in the three camps, who face an extended period of relocation. The people of Manam Island have lost their homes, gardens and income, and face an extended period of poverty. The volcano continues to erupt, sending ash to an altitude of 15,000 ft. Aviation code is red, indicating a hazard to aircraft. Last week a helicopter suffered a cracked windscreen when it flew into ash from the volcano. Report copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Wednesday 8th December 2004
It is disappointing that the international community has not taken the Manam volcano disaster more seriously. An event of this magnitude is too large for any one country to deal with. Urgent food supplies are needed to feed the thousands of people evacuated to the mainland. Gardens and trees have been destroyed in the eruptions, and people will not be able to return to the island for some considerable time, assuming that volcanic activity declines to a safe level. Monitoring equipment needs to be installed on the island to enable scientific study of the volcanic activity. Manam continues its high level of eruptive activity. Heavy rains from the start of the wet season are creating mud flows. The international community needs to start taking action to prevent further loss of life. The author of this website has been on the island to witness the situation, and has been asked by the evacuees to appeal for international assistance. Report copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Tuesday 7th December 2004
Eruptions continue at Manam volcano in Papua New Guinea. Five people are confirmed dead, and 9300 people are being evacuated from the island. The refugees are being relocated to three relief centres on the mainland. International assistance is being requested by local authorities to deal with the situation. Thousands of people are still on the island waiting to be evacuated. Food, shelter, and water are scarce in the relief centres. Manam is one of the most active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea. Report copyright John Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...