Volcano expert Marc Szeglat publishes news and video footage about volcanoes.
News about eruptions and volcanoes can be found in this category. It is updated frequently. Volcano expert and journalist Marc Szeglat reports live from his expeditions to volcanoes.
POVI reported that webcam images captured deposits of incandescent material on the flank 300 m from Villarrica?s summit crater in the morning of 15 July. Incandescent material from lava fountaining ejected above the crater rim was periodically visible on 16 July.
Source: Proyecto Observación Villarrica Internet (POVI)
Update 21.00 pm: According to official information there was one death victim and one injured person. The tourists were climbing towards the crater and were hit by lava bombs. Glowing tephra set the vegetation near the coast on fire.
VAAC Toulouse meanwhile issued a VONA report on the height of the ash cloud: ash was detected at 9144 m altitude. Currently, strombolian eruptions and a short lava flow on the outer flank of the crater cone can be seen on the livecam. From the front of the lava flow glowing lava rocks roll over the Sciara.
The current eruption is comparable to the great eruption of 1930. At that time 6 people died and lava bombs fell in the village. It looks as if Ginostra only barely escaped a catastrophe this time. Photos show flames near buildings.
The eruption will certainly trigger new discussions about safety and volcanic tourism on Stromboli. I think for the next months it was the ascent to the crater. For the volcano guides and hoteliers it was a double catastrophe, especially so shortly before the main season. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ascent to the crater region remained permanently closed.
Update 18.00 pm: It was one of the strongest explosions on Stromboli I have been able to report in the last 20 years. From the picture above it can be deduced that an ash cloud was formed which rose at least 5 km above the crater. A pyroclastic current(?) was generated, which glided over the Sciara del Fuoco to the sea. It is also possible that part of the crater collapsed and large boulders slid over the Sciara, creating ash clouds from swirling material. The vegetation caught fire in places. If there were people on Pizzo above the crater, the chances of survival are poor. The eruption came almost without warning. However, on 26 June there was already a larger explosion than usual. In addition, the pause intervals of the normal strombolian eruptions shortened and the tremor increased slightly, as can be seen on the plot of the live data. A report from VAAC Toulouse is still pending.
Original message: At Stromboli (Italy) a larger eruption occurred this afternoon. The summit area is covered with hot tephra, which reaches far down the volcano flanks. From Sciara del Fuoco you can see ash flags rising up to the sea. Obviously, a lot of material has flowed down there. Steam also rises from the rear edge of the depression. A crevasse opening cannot be excluded. In the crater area one recognizes strong steam development. It is not yet clear whether persons were injured.
JMA reported that during 24-29 April white plumes from Asosan?s Nakadake Crater rose 200-800 m above the crater rim. Many low-amplitude tremors and volcanic earthquakes were recorded. Sulfur dioxide emissions were generally high but on 25 April the gas emissions were very high at 4,000 tons/day, a value not exceeded since 12 March. Emissions were 3,300 tons/day on 25 April. Weak incandescence from Nakadake Crater was visible at night during 27-28 April. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-5).
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
KVERT reported that during 21-22 April a weak thermal anomaly over Klyuchevskoy was identified in satellite images along with gas-and-steam plumes containing ash drifting 160 km E. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale).
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
The Darwin VAAC reported that during 24-26 April white plumes of variable density rose 300-500 m above Tengger Caldera?s Bromo cone. White-to-black emissions rose 500 m above the cone on 27 April, and white-to-gray emissions rose 600 m above the cone on 29 April. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and visitors were warned to stay outside of a 1-km radius of the crater.
Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC),Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
PVMBG reported that at 0534 on 30 April a dense gray ash plume from Agung rose 1 km above the crater rim and drifted E. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4) with the exclusion zone set at a 4-km radius.
Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
JMA reported that incandescence from Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera?s Sakurajima volcano) was occasionally visible at night during 22-29 April. Three events and one explosion during 22-26 April generated plumes that rose as high as 1.4 km above the crater rim. A small event was recorded on 27 April. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Based on satellite and wind model data, and information from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 24-27 and 29-30 April ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.1 km (5,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and visitors were warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC),Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 21-22 and 24 April that sent ash plumes up to 2.5 km (8,200 ft) a.s.l. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale).
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
KVERT reported that a weak thermal anomaly over Karymsky was visible in satellite images during 18-21 April. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale).
Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)