Volcano Live
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Archived Volcano News - John Seach
January 16-31, 2005
News reports posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT + 10 hr)
Reports written by John Seach
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Monday 31st January 2005
Further information has been received about the large eruption of Manam volcano in Papua New Guinea. Thirteen people have been injured and one is missing, presumed dead after Friday's eruption. The eruption was larger then the eruptions of last October and November. Falling debris and lava burnt several people who were taken to Madang hospital for treatment. An elderly man from Warisi village was missing, possibly buried under his collapsed house. Two thousand people had returned to the island, which was evacuated last November, and are now pleading to be evacuated. Several houses have burnt down from hot emissions from the volcano, and others have collapsed under the weight of ash and cinders. People are resorting to shielding themselves using palm leaves. The first eruption occurred at night and caught people by surprise. Boats, canoes, and gardens were destroyed by tephra, and people were stranded on the island. A rescue ship has been sent to evacuate people to the mainland. Some of the people stranded on Manam Island had arrived only hours before the eruption to gather food from their gardens. A report from the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea stated that the eruption was heard in Mt Hagen, over 200 km SSW of the volcano. This is the largest eruption in the world over the past 12 months. 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 30th January 2005
A second large eruption occurred at Manam Volcano on Friday 28th January at 2300 hr (local time). Ash emissions continue to drift west from the volcano across West Papua province of Indonesia. Ash emissions are currently reaching 50,000 ft altitude. Further eruptions of Manam Volcano are likely.
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 29th January 2005
The eruption of Manam volcano yesterday has destroyed the volcano observatory. Meanwhile, the evacuees from Manam Island have been settled in three camps on the mainland for three months, and are now at risk of water borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. People in the camps are also at risk of nutritional deficiencies, with relief supplies being limited to rice, tinned fish, and occasional green vegetables.
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 29th January 2005
Satellite images indicate that Friday's large eruption at Manam volcano sent ash to 70,000 ft altitude, making it the largest eruption in the world over the past year. There are ongoing eruptions with ash to 60,000 ft altitude. The wind is taking the plume to the west across the whole of West Papua province in Indonesia. A slight change in wind direction, could take the ash cloud as far as Darwin in northern Australia. Manam Volcano is the most active in Papua New Guinea. A series of large eruptions at the end of 2004 forced the evacuation of over 9000 inhabitants of the island. Report by john Seach.
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Saturday 29th January 2005
Lava has flowed over the old sea cliff and is now on the West Highcastle delta 100 m from the sea. This west arm of the PKK lava flow has most of the activity, but there is another lava flow to the east which has flowed outside the National Park boundary. The lava is about 2 km west of Kupapa`u, moving across the southwest corner of the previously buried Royal Gardens subdivision. Above normal level of small earthquakes are being recorded at Kilauea's summit. Volcanic tremor at the active crater, Pu`u `O`o, remains at a moderate level.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...
Manam Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.10 S, 145.06 E, summit elevation 1807 m, Stratovolcano
Friday 28th January 2005
A large eruption of Manam volcano occurred around midnight last night (local time). The ash cloud reached 60,000 ft altitude drifted west of the volcano across West Papua, the eastern most province of Indonesia. Manam volcano entered a new and dangerous eruptive phase last October when eruptions forced the evacuation of over 9000 people. The evacuees remain on the mainland, away from the danger of the current eruption, and this new volcanic activity confirms the wisdom of the original evacuation order. Incorrect reports have quoted the Southern Crater as being the source of the 2004 eruptions. While traditionally the southern crater has been the most active, during the 2004 eruptions, Main Crater was the source of the eruptions. Report by John Seach
More on Manam Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Nicobar Islands Earthquakes (India)
Friday 28th January 2005
Over the past 2 days there has been sixteen moderate earthquakes measured in the Nicobar Islands region. The earthquakes were measured between magnitude 5 and 6, with epicenters about 100 E of Misha, Nicobar Islands, India 280 km NNW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia These are regarded as aftershocks from the great magnitude 9 earthquake which hit the region on 26th December 2004.
More on the Great Indian Ocean Earthquake...
Volcanoes of India...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Thursday 27th January 2005
Lava is breaking out of the PKK tube system and heading for the coast at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. Pahoehoe lava has reached within 250 m of the sea cliff at West Highcastle. At Pu`u `O`o crater, a new spatter cone is building inside the collapsed center of East Pond Vent.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...
Bagana Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
6.14 S, 155.19 E, summit elevation 1750 m, lava cone
Thursday 27th January 2005
Satellite images indicate ongoing volcanic activity at Bagana Volcano in Papua New Guinea. Hotspot activity was visible during four days in the past month, the most recent being on 15th January.
More on Bagana Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Rabaul Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
4.271 S, 152.203 E, summit elevation 688 m, Caldera
Wednesday 26th January 2005
Volcanic activity has resumed at Rabaul Volcano in Papua New Guinea. Yesterday, there were ash emissions to 500 m above the crater and drifting east. Rabaul Volcano Observatory indicates that an increase in activity is unlikely. Rabaul volcano is one of the most active in Papua New Guinea. Large eruptions in 1994 devastated the town of Rabaul.
More on Rabaul Volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...
Mt Belinda Volcano (Montagu Island, South Sandwich Islands)
58.27 S, 26.24 E, summit elevation 1370 m, Stratovolcano
Wednesday 26th January 2005
Satellite images indicate renewed volcanic activity at Montagu Island, South Sandwich Islands. Hotspots have been regularly seen on satellite images since the beginning of November 2004 and are continuing to 23rd January 2005. The first recorded eruptions of Mt Belinda occurred in 2001.
More on Mt Belinda Volcano...
Volcanoes of South Sandwich Islands...
Hyogo Declaration 2005
Sunday 23rd January 2005
The United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction (18-22 January, 2005) closed in Kobe yesterday, less than a month after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that cost 250,000 lives. A draft statement called, the Hyogo Declaration, was released at the conclusion of the conference. The main points of the declaration cover the following topics:
1) To strengthen global disaster reduction activities.
2) Recognize the relationship between disaster reduction, sustainable development, and poverty eradication.
3) The importance of further building the resilience of nations and communities through early warning systems, risk assessments, education, and focusing on areas such as prevention, preparedness, emergency response, recovery, and rehabilitation.
4) The 168 delegates at the conference adopted the "Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015" as the guiding framework for the next decade on disaster reduction.
For more details see the UN's web site (un.org).
The conference was held in Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, which was hit by a major earthquake on 17th January, 1995, killing 6,433 people.
Solomon Islands Earthquake (Magnitude 6.4)
Sunday 23rd January 2005
A large earthquake hit the Solomon Islands on Sunday, January 23, 2005 at 07:30:14 AM local time. The epicentre was located 60 km NE of Dadali, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands.
Volcanoes of the Solomon Islands...
No Volcanic Activity in the Grenadines (West Indies)
Sunday 23rd January 2005
An eight-day routine volcano monitoring trip to St. Vincent has concluded that there is no new volcanic activity taking place in the Grenadines. There was some concern about volcanic activity taking place in the vicinity of Mayreau and Tobago Cays in the Southern Grenadines, after a scuba diver reported seeing bubbles rising from the sea bed. Follow up underwater observations by a scientist from University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Trinidad, showed that the bubbles were from normal geothermal activity. Active volcanoes in the region are la Soufrière on St. Vincent, and an underwater volcano called Kick- 'em- Jenny.
Volcanoes of Caribbean...
Volcanoes of Guatemala
Saturday 22nd January 2005
At Pacaya volcano there is a Lava flow 150 meters long moving Southwest. At Fuego volcano ash is emitted to 900 m above the crater and landslides inside the crater. A small pyroclastic flow was observed at Santa Maria volcano and sporadic moderate explosions ejected ash to 1300 m above the crater.
More on Pacaya Volcano...
More Santa Maria Volcano...
More on Fuego Volcano...
Kanlaon Volcano (Philippines)
10.41 N, 123.13 E, summit elevation 2435 m, stratovolcano
Friday 21st January 2005
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is closely monitoring Kanlaon volcano after white smoke was seen coming out of the volcano's crater starting at 9:30 a.m.on Friday. The volcano continues to be seismically quiet. The public has been advised to avoid entering the four-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone because steam-driven explosions may suddenly occur without warning. Phivolcs also recommended the suspension of all treks to the volcano's summit until further notice. The provincial government has placed rescue groups on alert as a precaution.
More on Kanlaon Volcano...
Volcanoes of the Philippines...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Friday 21st January 2005
Lava has advanced 150 m in the past 24 hours, and now is now 625 m from the sea at west Highcastle.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...
Eruptions in Guatemala
Friday 21st January 2005
Three volcanoes continue to erupt in Guatemala. Pacaya volcano expels abundant steam and incandescent material from the crater. A 200 m long lava flow is moving southwest. At Fuego volcano, weak explosions send ash up to 300 meters on the crater, incandescent lava pulses reach the crater rim, and some explosions accompanied by weak rumbling. At Santa Maria volcano, sporadic weak and moderate explosions have emitted grey ash to 1,000 meters above the active crater, causing causing ash fall around the volcano. Some explosions are accompanied by weak and moderate avalanches in the southwest.
More on Pacaya Volcano...
More Santa Maria Volcano...
More on Fuego Volcano...
Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii)
19.425 N, 155.292 W, summit elevation 1222 m, Shield volcano
Thursday 20th January 2005
Lava is approaching the sea at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. A branch of the west arm of the PKK flow has reached the coastal flat and is only 800 m from the sea. Lava is about 1 hours walk from Chain of Craters Road. Lava last entered the sea at the end of December 2004.
More on Kilauea Volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...
Ancient Volcanoes Discovered off California
Thursday 20th January 2005
A team of researchers from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have discovered ancient volcanic islands which sunk off the California coast. Video images and rock samples indicate the three seamounts at 610 m depth were once associated with volcanoes which erupted above the ocean surface. The islands were probably above the ocean surface for millions of years but have now been submerged for 10 to 14 million years. The team found remnants of sandy beaches on the Rodriguez Seamount, the San Juan Seamount and the Northeast Bank, located about 300 kilometers off the coast of Los Angeles.
Volcanoes of USA...
International Early Warning Programme
Thursday 20th January 2005
The International Early Warning Programme (IEWP) was launched yesterday at the world Conference on Disaster Reduction. According to a press release from the United Nations conference, the early warning programme "will improve resilience to all types of natural hazards including droughts, wild land fires, floods, typhoons, hurricanes, landslides, volcanic eruption, and tsunamis." The UN initiative aims to emphasize the importance of community education about disaster preparedness, and to create a multi-hazard early warning system.
Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention
Wednesday 19th January 2005
The current United Nations conference in Kobe is a time for the world community to reconsider strategies for natural disaster prevention. A decade ago in 1994, UN member countries met in Yokohama to prepare a strategy for natural disaster reduction. According to the UN, since 1994 there has been 7100 natural disasters in the world, killing more than 300,000 people, and causing more than $800 billion US in damages. (These statistics were prepared by the UN in a report released 6 days before the great earthquake and tsunami which hit the Indian Ocean, so the recent tragedy is not included). Every year since 1994 has seen over 200 million people affected by natural disasters. Geological disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes accounted for only 15 percent of disasters, but caused over 30 percent of deaths. In the last decade volcanic eruptions have not been predominant in causing fatalities. The most deadly eruption was Nyiragongo in 2002 which resulted in 147 deaths. In 2001 Mt Cameroon erupted causing 23 deaths, and Soufriere Hills volcano erupted in 1997 killing 17 people. The last decade has been relatively free of major volcanic disasters. We should not be complacent however, as history shows, devastating volcanic eruptions are possible, such as Tambora in 1815 (92,000 deaths), Krakatau in 1883 (36,000 deaths), Mt Pelee in 1902 (29,000 deaths), and Nevado del Ruiz in 1985 (28,000 deaths). One sixth of the world's population live in a volcanic zone, so a plan of action for a safer world must include extra resources for volcano monitoring, hazard map development, eruption preparedness, research and education.
Mt St Helens Volcano (USA)
46.20 N, 122.18 W, summit elevation 2549 m, stratovolcano
Tuesday 18th January 2005
New volcano monitoring equipment, including video camera, gas sensor, GPS, and seismometer, installed on Friday at Mt St Helens volcano stopped transmitting data early Sunday morning. Direct observation of the volcano was not possible due to poor weather, but seismic data suggests that rockfall or steam and ash emission may have damaged the the instruments. In the 24 hours before its destruction, the GPS was moved southward and upward more than 8 meters, indicating a fast extrusion of lava from the dome.
More on Mt St Helens volcano...
Volcanoes of USA...
World Conference on Disaster Reduction (Kobe, Japan)
Tuesday 18th January 2005
A United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction opened today in Kobe, Japan. The opening came 10 years to the day after the Kobe earthquake in 1995, which measured magnitude 7.3 and killed 6433 people. The goal is to reach a ten year plan to reduce the effects of natural disasters in the world. The recent great earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean made the conference organizers include two more sessions on tsunamis. The number of people throughout the world at risk of natural disasters is increasing due to an increase in people settling in high risk areas. The focus on disaster reduction is welcomed, but it is hoped that an emphasis on tsunami early warning systems will not distract the conference from other equally important topics in disaster reduction. The natural disasters which cause the most fatalities are earthquakes, hurricanes, and famines.
More on volcano disasters...
Anatahan Volcano (Mariana Islands)
16.35 N, 145.67 E, summit elevation 788 m, Stratovolcano
Monday 17th January 2005
Eruptions continue at Anatahan Volcano in Mariana Islands. The eruptions have increased in intensity but have become less frequent. Late on January 15 UT, the seismicity level dropped to near zero for a couple of hours before surging to a new high for the year, 50 percent above the previous high. Ashfall has reached Saipan, located about 120 kilometers south of Anatahan. Tropical storm Kulap changed the wind direction sending ash and volcanic emissions to inhabited islands of Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana islands (CNMI). Some residents have mistaken the ashfall for normal dust and have not taken precautionary measures to avoid contact. Residents have continued with outdoor activities over the weekend, like swimming and having picnics, despite the change in the air quality. The Department of Public Health issued a volcanic ash health advisory for the whole CNMI as early as Saturday. The advisory urges residents, especially infants, elderly people and those with lung problems like asthma, to stay indoors. Between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. yesterday, a strong smell of sulphur reached Saipan. The health secretary advised residents to protect their water sources from falling volcanic ash. Water cisterns should be closed and covered and roof-collection systems should be turned off. Residents are encouraged to consume only bottled water until their alternate source of drinking water has been flushed and cleared of all volcanic debris.
More on Anatahan Volcano...
Kliuchevskoi Volcano (Russia)
56.06 N, 160.64 E, summit elevation 4835 m, stratovolcano
Monday 17th January 2005
Kliuchevskoi volcano erupted Sunday night after one year of dormancy. Small earthquakes and seismic swarms were detected near the volcano one month ago. The eruption has been accompanied by a large number of shallow earthquakes. Eruptions from the volcano usually last from a few months to several years, and ash emission presents a danger to domestic and international flights in the area. The closest inhabited area is the town of Klyuchi, about 30 kilometers from the volcano. The eruption poses no immediate threat to the town. Earthquakes from the volcano has made it difficult to monitor the seismic activity of its closest neighbor, the Bezymianny Volcano, which erupted six days ago, on January 11.
More on Kliuchevskoi Volcano...
Krakatau Volcano (Indonesia)
6.10 S, 105.42 E, summit elevation 813 m (Rakata), Caldera
Sunday 16th January 2005
A moderate earthquake hit Krakatau volcano region in Indonesia on Saturday 15th January 2005. The magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit at 08:46:59 PM local time. The epicenter was located approximately 30 km SW of the volcano at a depth of 15 km. Krakatau is one of the world's most famous volcanoes with a large eruption and caldera collapse in 1883 creating 40 m high tsunamis. The active cone "Anak Krakatau" has been regularly active since 1927. Krakatau volcano is not regularly monitored visually due to its offshore location. Seismic monitoring takes place from Kalianda on the mainland of Sumatra. The last reports of activity from Krakatau were in August 2004 when approximately 100 volcanic earthquakes were recorded during a week. The last confirmed eruption of Krakatau was in 2001, although small eruptions may go unreported. In July 2004 there was an increase in gas emission from the volcano, and the alert level was increased to level 2 (out of 4). Climbing the crater was prohibited.
More on Krakatau Volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...