Volcano watch

[Sevan Makaracı]

Japan: A new island appears in the Ogasawara Islands - November 2013

Active volcanoes (Sep 28, 2012)

Source

Source

"Of course all volcanoes will explode, as this is going to be a very severe pole shift. What about the months and years preceding the pole shift? It is no secret that Mammoth Lake and the caldera of Yellowstone are warming up, and the populace has been prepared for these occurrences by the movie Volcano where there, in the middle of LA, lava is bubbling up. In fact, there is a fault line running from the approximate San Diego/LA area, up into the Sierras, and this is liable to rupture rather violently during one of the quakes that precedes the pole shift by some months. Volcanic eruptions from that area in the Sierras can be expected. Will Mount St. Helen erupt? All volcanoes that have been active within the memory of man will begin spewing and burping and oozing, and many that were not expected to become active will reactive. "   ZetaTalk - Feb 15, 2000

[Howard]

Mexico's Colima Volcano in 'Constant State of Activity' (Jul 10)

Colima volcano in western Mexico has erupted again, sending ash more than four miles (6.4km) into the air and lava down the peak.

Colima is now in a constant state of activity, announced the director of Mexico''s civil protection agency Luis Felipe Puente.

According to Puente, the volcano spewed ash and gas into the sky, reaching heights of around 7 kilometers.

People were advised by Puente to recognize a 5-kilometer perimeter around the peak and to avoid activities in this place.

The authorities of Colima and Jalisco in western Mexico, activated the preventive protocols and remain on alert, due to the volcano's massive eruption.

Sources

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view...

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/colima/news/53699/Colima-volcano-Me...

[Howard]

Eruption of Indonesia's Raung Volcano Causes Travel Chaos (Jul 10)

Ash spewing from a volcano on Indonesia's main island of Java sparked chaos for holidaymakers as airports closed and international airlines cancelled flights to tourist hotspot Bali, stranding thousands.

Ash emissions have been intense enough to produce a plume that rose to 17,000 ft (5 km) altitude and drifted more than 150 km to the SE. Five regional airports including Denpasar (DPS) on Bali have been closed.

Mount Raung in East Java province, about 150 kilometres from Bali's international airport, has been rumbling for several weeks. The level of activity increased in the past week and on Friday it blasted ash and debris 3,800 metres into the air.

Government volcanologist Gede Suantika said the eruption forced authorities to close five airports due to the risks posed by volcanic ash, though two airports on Lombok island reopened Friday afternoon. The Transport Ministry told airlines to avoid routes near the mountain. It said a decision about reopening other airports would be made later Friday.

Suantika said lava and ash fall from the 3,332-metre-high mountain on Indonesia's most densely populated island also caused the government to urge people to stay away from a three-kilometre (two-mile) -high danger zone around the volcano.

Evacuation of residents living near the volcano is still considered unnecessary, but authorities are urging people to wear masks.

"Ash can clog engines and harm other parts of the aircraft," said Transport Ministry spokesman Julius Adravida Barata.

Airports on the islands of Bali and Lombok as well as airports at Banyuwangi and Jember in East Java were closed late Thursday. Barata said thousands of travellers were stranded.

Flights within Indonesia were already overbooked as tens of millions of the country's Muslims pour out of major cities to return to their villages during an annual mass exodus to celebrate the end of the Islamic holy month.

The volcano has proven particularly problematic for Australians, who flock to Bali during Australia's school holidays.

Dozens of flights between Australia and Bali's Ngurah Rai airport by Australian carriers Jetstar and Virgin Australia have been cancelled over the past week, with the airlines citing safety concerns.

At Bali's international airport, many travellers arrived not knowing about the eruption and flight cancellations. The airport blocked access to ticket counters, adding to the confusion.

Some tourists slept on benches or stood at flight information boards filled with "postponed" and "delayed" notifications. Others complained of a lack of information about their delayed flights.

"The airline can't tell us if we're going to be here tonight or fly tomorrow or the next day," said Charmaine Scott, an Australian holidaymaker.

"This is really difficult for us. We have to basically find some way to stay."

Raung is among about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia. The archipelago is prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes because of its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a series of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and Southeast Asia.

Another Indonesian volcano, Mount Sinabung in Sumatra, has been erupting for two months, forcing the evacuation of more than 10,000 people.

Sources

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/eruption-of-indonesian-volcano-cause...

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/raung/news.html

[Derrick Johnson]

Indonesian volcano disrupts flights

GOYA DMYTRYSHCHAK

Last updated 12:32, July 5 2015

A number of flights in and out of Bali have been cancelled due to the ash threat from the Mount Raung volcano in Indonesia.

Virgin Australia diverted four flights during the day on Saturday and cancelled six flights on Saturday night.

Virgin Australia spokesman Luke O'Donnell said four flights on Sunday had been cancelled.

"Our team of meteorologists are continuing to monitor the situation, in consultation with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)," he said.

"The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we will recommence normal operations as soon as the volcanic ash safely allows."

Jetstar cancelled all Bali flights for the remainder of Saturday.

Jetstar spokesman Luke Enright said the weather would monitored and an update on  Sunday's Bali services provided as soon as possible.

"We regret the impact these cancellations and delays are having on our passengers, particularly during the busy school holiday period, but we will always put safety before schedule," he said.

Weather conditions on Saturday resulted in an ash cloud from Mount Raung drifting closer to Denpasar International Airport.

Several flights were cancelled on Thursday and Friday after the VAAC raised its ash advisory from code orange to code red. VAAC meteorologist Craig Earl-Spurr said the ash cloud was currently coded orange.

"It's quite a thin plume, it's not a large eruption at all," he said.

"It's just a mild low-level eruption but the volcano's only about 80 nautical miles from Denpasar.

"The wind just happens to be blowing directly towards Denpasar from the volcano.

"It's not uncommon to see these plumes on and off and last a few days, sometimes even weeks.

"It's very difficult to tell if this is the end of it or if it will continue over the coming days."

 - Fairfax Media Australia

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/69970409/indonesian-volcano-disr... 

[KM]

http://www.nagalandpost.com/ChannelNews/Regional/RegionalNews.aspx?...

Fear of volcano eruption in Ukhrul

A continuous flow of smoke and ashes from a swamp at a place near Old Wahong village of Manipur’s Ukhrul district has left villagers fearing of natural calamity in the form of volcanic eruption any time, a daily reported Tuesday. Villagers said that smoke radius of about two feet along with ashes have been seen gushing out from the earth’s surface at Shitru area, since last two weeks. Shitru is located a place border Manipur, Nagaland and Myanmar. Villagers and onlookers feared volcanic eruption at the area in a short time. However, with majority of the villagers preoccupied with cultivation of seasonal crops, and coupled with incessant rainfall, they are yet to inform State authorities about the mysterious phenomenon till date.  Yet, they are clueless and at the same time quite apprehensive in case the smokes and ashes turn out to be a prelude to a volcanic eruption. It may be mentioned that in 2013, a mud volcano erupted at the neighbouring village of New Tusom due to the shifting of tectonic plates of India and Myanmar. It may be mentioned that in 2013, a mud volcano erupted at the neighbouring village of New Tusom due to the shifting of tectonic plates of India and Myanmar.

[Derrick Johnson]

Japan raises volcano alert for Mount Hakone after small eruption

PUBLISHED ON JUN 30, 2015 12:20 PM

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/east-asia/story/japan-raises-...

Steam rising near Hakone's hot springs on May 6, 2015. -- PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan raised the volcano alert at Mount Hakone south-west of Tokyo, restricting access to the area after an apparent small eruption at the mountain popular with holidaymakers.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said it had confirmed volcanic ash was emitted from the area, which is known for hot springs and which has been emitting unusual amounts of steam in recent months.

"There appears to have been a very small-scale volcanic eruption," the agency said on its website, raising the alert level to 3 from 2 on a scale of 5.

The higher alert restricts people from entering the area.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/east-asia/story/japan-raises-... 

[Derrick Johnson]

Guatemala volcano grows more active, spews ash

Guatemala City (AFP) - Guatemala's Fuego volcano shook from explosions Sunday and spewed ashes over nearby communities as it entered a more intense phase of activity, authorities said. The state Institute of Vulcanology reported "four or five explosions an hour accompanied by ashes (rising) to an altitude of 4,600 meters (15,000 feet)." The volcano is located 50 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of Guatemala City. The sound of the explosions could be heard from a distance of 25 kilometers, and shock waves rattled roof-tops and windows in surrounding villages, it said. Ash from the volcano was falling on villages on Fuego's western slopes. In February, a strong eruption forced authorities to close the international airport because of the ashfall.

Source: https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/28593896/guatemala-volcano-grows-... 

[Derrick Johnson]

Colima Volcano blasts ash and steam

Updated: Tue 3:37 PM, Jun 23, 2015

COLIMA, MX (NBC) - The Colima Volcano in Western Mexico blasted a column of ash and smoke into the air early Tuesday morning.

The volcano, also known as the 'Fire Volcano,' is one of the most active in Mexico.

It is included in the Colima Volcanic Complex, a prominent center of the Western Mexican Volcanic Belt.

As of now, the renewed activity has not affected nearby cities.

Source: http://poleshift.ning.com/profiles/blogs/volcano-watch 

[Derrick Johnson]

Ubinas volcano erupts, emits ashes

11 Hours ago

Hillary Ojeda

The Ubinas volcano explosion occurred this morning and spread ashes of 15 kilometers around the crater.

Ubinas volcano exploded this morning, spreading ashes over the Ubinas valley, reports El Comercio.

The explosion occurred at 8:50 a.m. this morning and spread ashes 15 kilometers wide around the volcano. The ashes primarily affected those in southeasterly direction at Ubinas Valley villages.

The Volcanological Observatory Metallurgical Mining Geological Institute (Ingemmet) reported the locals of Ubinas, Tonohaya, Anascapa and Sacohay were the most affected.

Ingemmet recommends that the valley’s citizens take precautions to protect against the layer of ash that could harm livestock and water sources. Locals should wear masks and glasses.

The volcano recorded numerous explosions earlier this month and for the last few months in high frequency.

In late April Ubinas and Matalaque declared state of emergency for the high level of activity registered by the volcano.

Source: http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-ubinas-volcano-erupts-emits-ashes-... 

[Derrick Johnson]

Bulusan blows top anew, sends 1.5-km ash column

LEGAZPI CITY — Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon belched a 1.5-kilometer high ash plume cloud at around 2:55 p.m. Friday and rained ash on five villages in Juban town, a report from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said.

Eduardo Laguerta, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) resident volcanologist here, said the eruption was  “phreatic,” similar to the three steam-driven explosions that happened early this week.

This time, the volcano bellowed a 1.5-kilometer high ash cloud, or about half a kilometer higher than the eruptions that took place on Tuesday and Thursday, Laguerta said in a phone interview. 

On Thursday, Phivolcs’ seismic instrument recorded one explosion and one rock fall event that lasted two minutes. However, it was not observed visually due to thick clouds covering the summit. But prior to Thursday’s ash eruption, a rumbling sound was heard between 5 a.m. to 7 a.m by residents of the village of Monbon in Irosin town, the bulletin said.

OCD-Bicol spokesperson Rachelle Miranda, in a phone interview, said the ash cloud belched Friday afternoon by the volcano drifted west southwest, affecting five villages of Juban – Anog, Puting Sapa, Katanusan, Bacolod and Bura-buran – with a total population of 5,713 persons.

Volcanologists were currently checking traces of ash that fell in the villages of Juban, she said.

The collected volcanic ashes would be tested to find out if it contain magma fragments, which could indicate that magma is building up in the volcano’s vent, Laguerta said.

“if the test finds that it contains ‘juvenile magma fragments’ it would be a precursor to a much stronger eruption,” Laguerta added.

Miranda said classes in public elementary and secondary schools in Juban remained suspended following Thursday’s eruption.

Alert Level 1 remains in effect over Mount Bulusan. Phivolcs warned the villagers not to venture into the 4-km Permanent Danger Zone due to sudden phreatic explosions.

Civil aviation authorities were likewise told to advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden phreatic eruption could be hazardous to aircraft.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/699637/bulusan-blows-top-anew-sends-1-... 

 

[Howard]

Dramatic Video of Sinabung Eruptions in Sumatra (Jun 19)

Mount Sinabung in Indonesia has been exploding with ash and debris since early June, now in its fifth year of activity since the long-dormant volcano came back online after hundreds of years of silence.

Environment videographer James Reynolds has been on the Indonesian island of Sumatra since Thursday, June 18, sharing video of Sinabung’s intense eruptions of ash and gas. In Reynolds’ video above, Sinabung’s pyroclastic flow surges down the mountainside on Friday, destroying everything in its path, including farms. The beginning of the video shows how pyroclastic flow can pour down the side of a volcano like an avalanche.

Pyroclastic flow — made up of small pieces of rock, ash and hot gas — can vary in speed, it is universally deadly and destructive. A pyroclastic flow will destroy nearly everything in its path. With rock fragments ranging in size from ash to boulders traveling across the ground at speeds typically greater than 50 mph, pyroclastic flows knock down, shatter, bury or carry away nearly all objects and structures in their way.

Mount Sinabung probably rested dormant without eruption for 400 years, until it exploded into life on Aug. 29, 2010, and has remained active ever since.

Sinabung is a small, composite, andesitic volcano, which means the cone-like mountain was formed from layers of lava and ash over thousands of years. Sinabung’s summit is just over 8,000 feet, but rises only a thousand meters or so above the surrounding terrain, much of which is dotted with numerous small farms.

On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that authorities in Indonesia were having a difficult time convincing residents closest to the volcano to stay away for their own safety:

“We have lost our vegetables, but not coffee,” said Sapta Sembiring Palawi from Gambir village, about 4.7 kilometers (3 miles) from the smoldering peak. “Coffee has let us survive and we have to take care of it now.” Palawi, a grandfather, is one of about 200 people from the village who have refused to move to government shelters.

Sources

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/06...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3132521/Thousands-villagers...