December - Volcanoes 2007:  TRINIDAD - At Devil's Woodyard, a mud volcano about 10 kilometers east of Princes Town, 10 new "minor" craters and a crack that runs more than 100 feet and is several inches wide, have appeared after the massive Caribbean quake last week. By the sound coming from the mud volcano, it seemed to residents that it was close to eruption. In 1995, when a volcano erupted, it sent black mud over a wide area, driving many residents permanently from their homes. Workers have been planting trees to cover the area that was destroyed. Workers there who were reforesting this week are frightened and wish to be reassigned out of the area.

ECUADOR - Tungurahua volcano showered ash down on small villages and showed increased signs of activity on Friday. A plume of smoke spewed from the volcano 135 kilometers (80 miles) south of the capital of Quito, and red lava was seen rolling down its flanks at night. Nearby villages was not in danger, but volcanic activity "could become more intense." Tungurahua has been erupting off and on since 1999.

YEMEN - A volcano on a small uninhabited island in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen erupted again on 3 December after previously erupting on 30 September. No-one has been injured and there is no obvious threat to the environment following the eruption on Yemen’s Jabal al-Tair island. On 4 December the eruption occurred after seismic activities in the area over the past two days. “The eruption took place naturally. It is no danger.” The volcano has been active since it erupted on 30 September and there have been occasional lava flows. “The eruptions will continue for a long time until the lava in the ground finishes.” This eruption occurred due to fissures that appeared on the island after the previous eruption. “The fissures made it easy for the new eruption to occur.” This kind of volcano does not cool off quickly and may well involve a series of eruptions. “This volcano doesn’t pose a threat to neighboring islands.” The 30 September eruption led to the deaths of nine people and 47 others were slightly injured.

YEMEN- Jabl al-Tair volcano activity may threaten regional navigation - The Ministry of Fisheries Wealth sent a warning to all fishermen not to get close to the Island of Jabl al-Tair due to the reawakening of the volcano that erupted last Monday. Sources say that this is a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of the fisherman and nearby citizens. “The Ministry of Fisheries Wealth announced in a circulation note to all fishermen to report any dangerous developments they may have witnessed to the office in order to take the necessary actions and inform the concerned parties.” The Center also reported an earthquake last Monday at 6:04 pm centered in the Red Sea which measured 2.7 on the Richter scale. Another smaller earthquake measuring 1.9 on the Richter scale was detected at 11:46am on Tuesday. An additional two earthquakes were also reported in al-Beidha governorate, one on Monday at 10:30 pm and the second on Tuesday at 4:49 am. Based on the data collected, these earthquakes appear to be a natural result of pressure under the sea bed being released gradually. The Jabl al-Tair Volcano, located 100 km northeast of Houdeida, is in a state of continual activity, but this September 29 eruption proved more severe than usual. Jabl al-Tair volcano is one of the natural threats whose impact would be felt by all surrounding countries. “There is a great need to set up a regional center for monitoring earthquakes and other natural disasters in order to be able to take early action, as THE SAFE AREA IS SHRINKING and this increases the risks, especially for regional navigation." Experts and geologists say that the reawakening of the volcano is the result of gases being emitted from deep inside the earth’s crust via rifts created when the volcano first erupted.

COSTA RICA - The Turrialba volcano in Costa Rica began discharging vapor and gas on Wednesday that raised an alarm to the experts for a potential eruption, however, no evacuations have been ordered yet. "Reports from neighbors located at the foot of the volcano indicate that a thick white column of gas and vapor has begun rising from the volcano's crater." Witnesses have been reporting burning fields near Turrialba, located within 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the country's capital, San Jose. Turrialba had been closely monitored by officials since May due to a mild increase in its seismic activity. Increase in activity started in August 2006, from which gas discharge, small landslides and dead vegetation were reported from locations nearby the crater. The volcano had been dormant since its last eruption in 1866.

MOLTEN LAVA MAY BE MELTING GREENLAND'S ICE CAP - Global warming may not be the only thing melting Greenland. Scientists have found at least one natural magma hotspot under the Arctic island that could be pitching in. In recent years, Greenland's ice has been melting more and flowing faster into the sea — a record amount of ice melted from the frozen mass this summer — and Earth's rising temperatures are suspected to be the main culprit. But clues to a new natural contribution to the melt arose when scientists discovered a thin spot in the Earth's crust under the northeast corner of the Greenland Ice Sheet where heat from Earth's insides could seep through. The corner of Greenland where the hotspot was found had no known ice streams, rivers of ice that run through the main ice sheet and out to sea, until one was discovered in 1991. What exactly caused the stream to form was uncertain. "Ice streams have to have some reason for being there, and it's pretty surprising to suddenly see one in the middle of the ice sheet." The newly discovered hotspot, where Earth's crust is thinner allowing hot magma from Earth's mantle to come closer to the surface, is just below the ice sheet and could have caused it to form. What caused the hotspot to suddenly form is another mystery. "It could be that there's a volcano down there, but we think it's probably just the way the heat is being distributed by the rock topography at the base of the ice."

An eruption of the most northern active volcano in Kamchatka – Shiveluch occurred on December 19th and appeared to be one of the most powerful eruptions of the recent years. Powerful flows of ash were coming from the volcano crater along with gas flows and fragments of magma substances with the temperature reaching 800 degrees Centigrade or 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit.  Ash belches went up to 10-12 kilometers high. Satellite photos distinctly show a 600-kilometre ash plume going west from the volcano.  At the moment specialists register powerful explosions in the volcano crater; it is said that in the closest time another eruption may take place. Over 200 volcanic tremors have been recorded in the past 24 hours.

ECUADOR - Increased seismic activity at the Andean volcano of Tungurahua has prompted the evacuation of 1,200 Ecuadorean villagers, who venture home only to tend crops during the day. Ten villages have been evacuated to sleep in shelters "to avoid people from being near the volcano." The Tungurahua volcano was registering near-constant seismic activity after seven hours of tremors rattled windows Saturday morning, showing an intense glow in its crater and spewing a fine coat of ash. "We can't rule out at this moment that the volcano may evolve in coming weeks from the current situation to a much more explosive level." 

 

November - Volcanoes 2007:   INDONESIA - 4 volcanoes under eruption alerts & another has a lahar flood threat - Hundreds more people were evacuated from around Indonesia's Mount Kelud volcano in East Java yesterday after more than 600 hundred tremors were recorded in 18 hours. Authorities raised the alert at Mt Kelud, one of Indonesia's deadliest volcanoes, to maximum two weeks ago amid signs of an imminent eruption. “There have been more tremors than at the time we increased the alert to the highest level last month.” Magma is 700m below the crater and could shoot out if it has enough energy.  Meanwhile, thousands of people are at risk from volcanic lahar on Mount Guntur in West Java as dams built to collect the material on the slopes start to overflow. The amount of lahar, a mix of mud and lava, from Mount Guntur has swelled after heavy rains and as locals continued to mine sand and stones. “The volcano is active but there's no increased intensity. What we are concerned (with) is a possible flow of lahar from the dams. We already issued a recommendation for evacuation two weeks ago."  Indonesian officials were also closely monitoring three other volcanoes for increased activity. The second-highest alert has also been issued for Mt Anak Krakatau, which has been throwing up showers of ash. Alerts have also been issued for Mt Soputan, in North Sulawesi, which erupted last week spewing columns of ash 1000m, and Mt Karangetang off Sulawesi.

INDONESIA- An island that has emerged in the middle of the crater lake of Indonesia's Mt Kelut may have been effectively plugging the volcano but it could be dislodged, scientists warned yesterday. The peak in East Java, whose slopes are populated by thousands of people, was put on high alert on October 16 but has not fully erupted, puzzling scientists who say it is impossible to predict what may happen next. "The island was visually captured by our CCTV (closed-circuit television) on Sunday, with smoke now pluming up to one kilometer from it.” They estimate that the 100m-long island loomed 20m above the surface of the crater lake. The temperature of the lake has soared so high it has broken measuring instruments.

Villagers flee in panic as Java volcano erupts: villagers fled the slopes of Indonesia's Mount Kelud in panic yesterday after seismic readings showed the volcano had begun erupting after weeks of heightened activity.  "I am afraid because the authorities say this eruption will be worse than the ones that have come before," said Marsini, a villager living three miles from the crater. "They say there may be poisonous gas. I am leaving now." Scientists fear that a build-up of magma under Kelud's crater lake could trigger a violent blast, sending a torrent of mud, ash and rock careering down the side of the 5,679ft mountain. Close to half a million people remain vulnerable to very possible eruption of Mount Kelud, in East Java. On October 16th 2007, The Government has urge evacuation of the 116,000 residents of the most vulnerable villages across the hills of the volcano within 8 miles distance from the volcano. Efforts have been taken to clear pathways for anticipated 30 million meter cubic lava flows through the rivers should the eruption take place. Over 500 quakes have taken place so far while the temperature of the volcanic lake at the mount has increased to 100 degree Fahrenheit. In May 1919, Mount Kelud eruption killed 5,190 people while the 1951, 1966, and 1990 eruptions delivered less damaged in country located in the Ring of Fire where volcano range from Europe and south America meets. Ash rains, poisonous gas, hot mud and lava, earthquakes are immediate risks among the residents with possible needs for housing, food, water, shelter, and health care.

JakartaPost Authorities have responded to a rise in activity on Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait by placing the volcano on the second highest alert. 

INDONESIA - ANAK KARAKATAU VOLCANO - 600 volcanic quakes, tremors and eruptions at Mt Anak Karakatau were recorded on Thursday. The volcanic eruption, as well as deep and shallow shocks, tremors and hot gas blasts, increased tremendously compared to Wednesday. Until Thursday the frequency of tremors and eruptions had been fluctuating. The molten lava may reach the surrounding land if the eruptions and tremors do not subside.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua: The Concepcion volcano in Nicaragua sent huge columns of ash into the sky in eruptions that prompted a ripple of small earthquakes, local seismologists said Sunday. The volcano, one of two on an island in the region's largest lake, erupted Saturday night and related earthquakes continued to rattle the area on Sunday. No one was injured by the blast, Nicaragua's Institute of Territorial Studies said in a statement. The 1,610-meter (5,282-foot) volcano is located 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of the capital, Managua, on an island popular with adventure tourists in Lake Nicaragua, Central America's largest lake. Ash rained down on local communities on Sunday, as strong winds carried it to toward the capital, the institute said. The Concepcion volcano, which shares its lake island with the dormant Maderas volcano, last erupted in 2005.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - An increased activity on Karkar island volcano is worrying volcanologists and Madang residents because the lack of monitoring equipment means there is no way of knowing the dangers posed. Monitoring equipment set up in 2002 were destroyed within 24 hours of them being set up on the island. Images received this month confirmed that there has been an increase in thermal activity and gas emission from the SE and SW flanks of Bagiai cone on Karkar. The increase in thermal activity has resulted in vegetation dying near these two areas. People from Kevasop village on the southwest of the island heard low roaring noises in late October. Since that time Bagiai cone has been releasing thin white vapor visible from Kevasop village. There has been a vast increase in vapor and smoke compared to three months ago. The volcano last erupted in 1979, killing two volcanologists on the island. 

 

October - Volcanoes 2007:  INDONESIA - Indonesian scientists stepped up the alert level for a volcano in East Java and told people to stay away from the crater amid fears it is building up to an eruption. The alert for Mount Kelut was raised to the third of a four-level warning system on Sunday. It was based on recordings of increased seismic activity as well as rising temperatures in the crater lake and the shifting chemical composition of the water. The alert status had already been raised one step on September 11. Although its slopes are sparsely inhabited, the peak is a popular domestic tourist destination and is located on a densely-populated plain. Between September 26 and 29, 54 volcanic earthquakes and nine tectonic temblors had been recorded, and signs were that their epicenter was moving closer to the surface. The lake on top of the volcano has also changed from its habitual greenish aspect into milky white, and gas is coming out. The chemical concentrate in the water had risen significantly over the previous months and the temperature of the lake was steadily rising. The volcano last blew in 1990. It has claimed more than 15,000 lives since 1500, including around 10,000 when it erupted in 1568. Mount Kelud volcano, which was put on the country's second-highest alert level, shows several alarming signs indicating it may erupt, the country's top volcano expert said. "I'm scared about Kelud. Kelud is now on the point of no return." The number of volcanic earthquakes at Mount Kelud, 90 km (55 miles) southwest of Indonesia's second-largest city Surabaya, has risen to as high as 23 in one day, compared with a maximum of 15 a day just before its last eruption in 1990. The volcano's "deformation" or expansion has increased, and gas and chemical levels have risen, while the temperature of the lake in the volcano's crater is climbing more rapidly, hitting 37.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, compared with 32 degrees in August. Experts in Bandung, a city in West Java which is circled by volcano peaks, have been monitoring Mount Kelud for weeks, after three other volcanoes erupted earlier this year in Indonesia.

NEW ZEALAND - Seismologists are warning that two earthquakes near Mount Ruapehu on Monday (local time) may be a sign of more things to come. A 4.5 magnitude quake was felt just after 3pm on Monday. It was centered 10 kilometers north-east of Turangi. The quake was 5km deep. Then at 6:20pm there was another small quake, measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale. It could be an indicator that we haven't seen the last eruption from Mount Ruapehu. Mount Ruapehu is showing a sign of unrest that in itself means it is important to be cautious about it.

RUSSIA - One of the most active volcanoes at Kamchatka - Shiveluch - threw out ashes on Sunday, the loop of which stretched 20km to the west and to the south-west. In one day over 300 local earthquakes were registered at the volcano. The most powerful of them was accompanied by emission of ashes from the crater to the height up to 4.6km over the sea level, scientists think. A thermal anomaly, the temperature of which was 38.6 degrees above zero on Celsius with ambient temperature minus 18 degrees, was registered on the volcano. Seismic stations register continuous spasmodic volcanic trembling. The last eruption happened in 1964, when the destruction of the lava dome happened and the volcano threw out over 1 cubic kilometer of volcanic material. Processes, happening on the volcano during the last decades, are similar to those which happened from 1854 to 1964 - during the period between the most powerful eruptions. By analogy it is possible to assume that in an interval of 100 years from the last powerful explosion in the crater of the giant, a new one will happen. Specialists who watch the behavior of the giant say that "no less than ten of such explosions happened in 1.5 thousand years." Shiveluch Volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula may be about to stage a large eruption. The Shiveluch volcano located in the north of the peninsula has intensified its activity and threatens with a new heavy eruption. Lately the volcano activity has increased and a heavy eruption is supposed to occur; it is supposed to be as heavy as the eruption in 2005, when the burning hot lava stream, about a kilometer wide and 25 kilometers long, erupted from Shiveluch and rushed down its slopes burning everything on its way. The seismic stations have already registered more than 400 local earthquakes near the volcano. The scientists suppose that some seismic events were accompanied with emissions of gas and ash about four kilometers high. The eruption of the volcano began in December 2006. The massive gas and ash columns rise above its crater from time to time.

PHILIPPINES - Bulusan volcano sustained its restiveness Thursday, generating over a hundred volcanic quakes in the past 24 hours.

PERU & CHILE- Volcanic structures monitored in the Andes via satellite show unexpected activity. The central part of the Andes situated between southern Peru and Chile bears 50 active or potentially volcanoes, spread along a 1500 km-long arc. These volcanic structures are very remote with abrupt slopes and are often cloaked in snow. Few studies have been made on them as such conditions make field surveying extremely difficult. Research projects on deformations of the earth crust, conducted in this region between 1992 and 2000, led to the detection of a long wavelength signal over the area's topography. This deformation would correspond to crustal inflation affecting the whole Lastarria-Cordon del Azufre complex. Although this volcano is not considered as active, as the last eruption dates back 9000 years, such inflation could express an underlying activity related to the dynamics of a functioning magma chamber. Between March 2003 and June 2005, new data led to measurement of inflation of about a centimeter affecting the crust over the whole Lastarria-Cordon del Azufre volcanic complex. A long wavelength regional-scale signal was found, covering a surface area of about 45 km long by 35 km wide corresponding to the entire volcanic complex. A short wavelength signal not previously identified was also revealed, but unlike the first, it was located at the smaller scale of the Lastarria volcano only. Two distinct hypotheses are envisaged to explain the emission of these two wavelengths. As the inflation measured at regional scale corresponds to a long wavelength signal, it has a fairly deep source, estimated by the geophysicists at between 7 and 15 km down. An inflation located at such a depth is highly likely to be generated by magmatic activity. The source of the short wavelength signal, located at about 1000 m beneath the summit of the Lastarria volcano, is more uncertain, however. Indications nevertheless suggest a link with the circulation of hydrothermal fluids. The hope is to obtain further information on changes of mass or density at depth, as a modification of gravity combined with a displacement of the terrestrial crust could indicate a filling or an emptying of a magma chamber and therefore confirm an underlying volcanic activity. If this turned out to be true, the Lastatria-Cordon del Azufre volcanic complex would be the only area under the Andes where the formation of large magma reservoirs has been demonstrated.

INDONESIA - The risk of eruption at an Indonesian volcano on Java Island has not passed and remains at high alert status, scientists said Saturday. "Tremors had calmed down from Mount Kelut since yesterday (Friday) but other indicators still show increasing magmatic pressure from the volcano's belly." Sensors sending real-time information from the mount's peak showed increased temperatures at the crater. Tremors rocked Mount Kelut for nearly an hour on Friday afternoon - usually a precursor of an eruption. Geologists have said the eruption would be comprised of "heat clouds" consisting of searing gases and volcanic debris rushing down the slopes, similar to the most recent eruption in 1990 that left 34 dead. Some 116,000 villagers have been evacuated from the fertile land around Kelut's slopes, but many have defied local officials' orders to stay away and returned home to tend their farms and to protect against possible looting. About to 130,000 people live in the 10-kilometre radius danger zone and a further 150,000 people live up to 30 kilometers from the crater.

HAWAII- Lava flowing from a new vent on Kilauea's eastern flank is now feeding into a lava tube that could allow it to flow farther and faster. Geologists say the formation of lava tubes can be worrisome because they insulate the lava, which has advanced 1.5 miles from the end of the open lava channel. But Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's daily assessment maintains that there's no immediate threat. That means thousands of lower Puna residents currently remain at a safe distance. There needs to be a steady supply of lava for it to travel a long distance, but the level of the channel has fluctuated over time. Kilauea has been erupting for 24 years. On July 21, a new outbreak of lava occurred to the east of Puu Oo vent. It was the first time lava erupted in the area outside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park since 1992.

 

September - Volcanoes 2007:    INDIA - Authorities in Arunachal Pradesh have sounded an alert after lava and hot gas clouds began erupting from the side of a hill. A RARE geological occurrence was reported from a hill slope near Kimin village, about 75 km north of state capital Itanagar. "Residents first witnessed a fire in the hill and afterwards it began spewing ash and sending debris down its slopes that appears like typical molten magma of a volcano." The phenomenon was first reported Aug 21 from the area where there was no human habitation. The nearest human settlement is located about a kilometer from the hill slope. "The debris found in the area was of different colors like black, green and brown. Some of the substances also appear like glass, besides burnt bricks and rocks. Such was the intensity of the heat from the flying debris that a high tension power pole near the site of the occurrence melted, resulting in power disruption." Residents in the area are panicking, with authorities sealing the area by deploying police and preventing people from going near the hill. "The site is lying dormant but not extinct, as the area continues to emit smoke and gas and also the nearby earth was found to be very hot." Experts from the Geological Survey of India have visited the area and collected samples for laboratory tests at their headquarters in Kolkata. "This is some sort of a fumarolic activity which could be the beginning of some activity inside the earth. The molten magma has probably oozed out owing to rise in temperature of at least 1,000 degrees centigrade." The laboratory test report is expected by the weekend. India's northeastern region is considered by seismologists to be the sixth most quake prone belt. "Evidence of volcanic eruptions some millions of years back has been found in a village named Lichi, about 15 km from the present eruption site. However, there are no historical remains of any volcanic mountain - extinct, dormant or active in the region." GSI experts are camping in the area to observe the rare occurrence and have asked authorities not to allow locals to go near the site. "There has been no fresh oozing since Aug 21 although more such occurrences cannot be ruled out."

TANZANIA - Intermittent volcanic eruptions from Oldonyo Lengai Mountain in Arusha Region have caused panic and anxiety among villagers living nearby. The surrounding communities, especially those at Engaresero Village, who had previously defied a government evacuation order, are currently seeking assistance to move out, following days of mountain rumbling. Interviewed residents of the village, which is situated 16 kilometers from the mountain, confirmed seeing discharge of red-hot dust from the mountaintop on Tuesday night, coupled with tremors and explosions. The first explosion was heard after midnight on Tuesday. It was followed by another powerful blast Wednesday morning, which forced all residents to revisit their previous decision of sticking to their guns. Tourists who spent a night at Engaresero decided to cut short their visit after witnessing the flow of hot lava down the mountain, which covered all creeks located downhill. In July, volcanic activities were reported at Oldonyo Lengai, occurring almost at the same time as earth tremors in other parts of Tanzania. The affected regions are Arusha, Kilimanajaro, Mwanza, Dodoma and Dar es Salaam. Earth tremors also shook the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi.

INDONESIA'S POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE may have affected the devastating mudflow from the mud volcano in East Java. The massive crater had been spurting more mud than normal in recent days. Nine villages - including thousands of homes, factories and rice paddy fields - have been buried by the mud, which started flowing from the site of a gas exploration well during drilling 3km underground more than a year ago. The increase in mud coincides with the series of earthquakes in tremor-prone Indonesia, but it is too early to definitively say the two were connected. "To say there's a link between the earthquake and increase in mudflow, we cannot be certain of that. But, from what our eyes can see, the mudflow volume has increased in the past three to four days. The mud has overflow from the first ring dam, the one surrounding the mudflow's central source. There's also increase in sulfuric gas outflow."

GLOBAL WARMING TO TRIGGER VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, scientists warn - British scientists are warning of another possible side effect of climate change: a surge of dangerous volcanic eruptions. Researchers say the melting of polar ice sheets from global warming and the resulting stress placed on the earths crust from rising sea levels will increase eruptions in the years to come. There could also be an increase in undersea earthquakes and tsunamis. "There is already evidence for earthquakes in Alaska being triggered by unloading by ice. Also evidence of this volcano Pavlof in Alaska erupting in the winter when sea levels rise slightly due to weather conditions, just 30 centimeters. So, if we see one to two meters of sea level rise this century, accompanied by mass wasting of the glaciers in the polar region, so we can expect a response by the crust within the next few decades."

TANZANIA - authorities are persuading people in villages near Ol Doinyo Lengai to move to safer areas after the volcano erupted. Since July, areas around Ol Doinyo Lengai have been hit by earth tremors as a result of volcanic activity. The earthquakes caused panic in settled areas, including the Kenya capital, Nairobi. The mountain has spewed smoke and discharged lava since the beginning of September. The most powerful quake, on the afternoon of 17 July, was estimated at 5.9 on the Richter scale.

NEW ZEALAND - Scientists have discovered a film of molten magma under the central North Island. As a result of the find, monitoring of the potentially explosive Taupo Volcanic Zone, the scene of enormous eruptions in the past, will be improved. It was thought magma lurked in unconnected pockets under volcanoes and geothermal zones, but new measurements have revealed the molten rock lies across a zone 50 kilometers wide and 160km long, northeast of Taupo. "The key is that it is like a continuous film wetting the surface. The wet surface is right across the Taupo Volcanic Zone, not just little blobs under each geothermal system or volcano." When the system is stable, a layer of hot rock with its small amount of magma provides the heat necessary to fuel more than 20 geothermal systems in the region. But if there is too much magma it can build up at shallow depths, eventually leading to a giant eruption. About 26,000 years ago such an explosion formed what is now Lake Taupo. Until now there had been little evidence about the extent of the magma system under the central North Island. "Eruptions from the Taupo area are enormous, the scale is difficult to imagine."

JAKARTA  - A massive earthquake that shook Indonesia's Sumatra Island last week triggered more activity in three volcanoes in the area, but all have since calmed down, the head of the country's Volcanological survey said on Monday. The 8.4 magnitude quake that struck off the coast of western Sumatra on Wednesday and a series of aftershocks spurred fresh magma movement in the volcanoes, which lie close to the quake's epicenter, Saut Simatupang told Reuters. "It is true that the shocks have spurred an increased number of tremors in surrounding volcanoes. The number of tremors indicates the movement of magma," Simatupang said. Mount Talang -- which lies just 30 km (19 miles) from Padang, the city nearest to the epicenter of one of the quakes -- recorded almost 40 times the usual number of volcanic tremors a day after the quake, Simatupang said. But activity on the 2,597-metre (8,520-foot) volcano dropped dramatically the day after, and the number of tremors is now close to the normal six a day. Two other volcanoes, Mount Dempo and Kaba in the worst-hit province of Bengkulu, have also calmed down after the aftershocks began to ease. A series of tremors, ranging in intensity from 4.9 to 7.8 since Wednesday's quake, have repeatedly set off tsunami warnings in Indian Ocean countries.

COSTA RICA - Volcan Arenal gave the residents and visitors an unexpected show. Lava spewed out of the cone and down the southwest side of the mountain finally stopping around 1000 meters above sea level. It is no surprise that there is activity in the mountain, but typically the lava does not travel outside of the cone. It simply jumps out of the cone and back in to form a protuberance or bulge. This time the pressure on the protuberance was too much and the lava broke through to form a pyroclastic flow, which is an eruption of high-temperature gases, ash, and rocks. This time of year brings a lot of seismic activity to the area, causing quite a few opportunities for visitors to see some action. Although there was no dangerous threat, scientists are going to keep a close eye on the volcano.

WASHINGTON - Mount St. Helens just won't quit. Three years ago this month, hundreds of small earthquakes heralded the renewal of volcanic activity at the Cascade peak after an 18-year lull. Since then, the volcano has been a perpetual-motion machine. "It's been an amazing run. I never thought this eruption would last this long. And although things have slowed, there's no signs of it stopping any time soon...Mount St. Helens woke up in a hurry three years ago, which shows that we have to be prepared for what these volcanoes can do. You want to be ahead of the game by being able to detect even small changes." Tens of earthquakes are occurring daily compared with hundreds a year ago.

 

August - Volcanoes 2007:     PHILIPPINES- Bulusan volcano fell silent on Wednesday, a day after it spewed a huge column of sulfuric ash and pebbles. 46 earthquakes have been detected in the Bulusan volcano since then. Steam and ash continue to pour from its summit. The Philippine Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology says another eruption will take place at any time, and it warned local residents to be alert for volcanic mudflows if heavy rains fall on Bulusan's slopes.

ICELAND- A series of small earthquakes around Upptyppingar north of Vatnajökull since this February has prompted speculations from geologists that a volcanic eruption could be imminent in the area. A particularly intense sequences of quakes occurred during the nights of July 31 and August 1. Around 130 small quakes were reported during that period. Geologists believe the quakes are related to movements of magma underneath the surface and if they continue with increasing power a volcanic eruption might take place.

INDONESIA- disaster authorities on Thursday raised the alert level over Mount Papandayan in West Java province after volcanic activities were recorded in recent weeks which may be signs of imminent eruption. Continuous minor tremors were recorded near the volcano and temperatures around the volcano have shown signs of increase. "The volcano visibly spewed white thick smoke as high as 50 meters." The volcano's last eruption was on November 21, 2002.

INDONESIA- An Indonesian official warned tourists and villagers on Sunday to stay one kilometer (0.6 miles) back from two craters on a smoking volcano that are spewing poison gas. "We don't want fatalities in Mount Papandayan," citing an incident last month in which poisonous fumes on neighboring Salak Volcano killed six school children camping on the mountainside. Activity at the volcano, one of the country's most active, has increased in recent days, but a major eruption is not believed to be imminent.

RUSSIA- The Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East is emitting ash to the height of 6,000 meters (20,000 feet). In the past twenty-four hours, about 170 local tremors have been registered around Mount Shiveluch. The volcano began erupting in December 2006. Satellite photos show that clouds of volcanic ash are spreading to the distance of 90 km (56 miles) southeast of the volcano, posing a threat to air flights.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO- Dangerous gas is bubbling out of the mud volcano. The Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Marine Affairs has warned fishermen and other boaters to stay away from the mud volcano off the east coast of Trinidad as it is emitting methane, a flammable gas. This situation could be hazardous if the gas was ignited. The volcano has grown 45 feet over the past four months and is now within four feet of breaking the sea surface.

ALASKA- Pavlof Volcano on the Alaska Peninsula is erupting. Eyewitnesses on several ships reported seeing incandescent blocks falling down the east-southeast flank of the volcano Tuesday night. The observatory had already raised its aviation alert code for the volcano from yellow to orange, and the alert level from advisory to watch, based on heat readings by weather satellites and an escalating swarm of earthquake signals from sensors on the mountain. A pilot reported a weak ash plume extending five miles southwest of the summit at about 8,400 feet elevation. Scientists said the eruption could become stronger at any time. Immediate hazards around the volcano include light ashfall on nearby communities, mud flows in local drainages, and lava flows and avalanching of hot debris on the upper reaches of the volcano. Attention was first drawn to the volcano, 37 miles northeast of Cold Bay, when earthquake activity increased abruptly on Tuesday. Similar patterns of seismicity occurred before eruptions in 1996, 1986, 1983 and 1981.

ETHIOPIA- A volcano in north-east Ethiopia's Afar region erupted over the weekend, leaving two people missing and forcing hundreds to flee. The volcano spewed lava on Sunday, forcing mainly salt-mining Afar nomads living around the mountain's range to escape. "The volcano at Alama'ari locality in the Afar regional state forced residents of the nearby villages of Dayulu and Gomoyta to flee for their lives, two among them are still missing. People living in nearby mountain ranges were also forced to retreat." The volcano's name was not given, and it was not immediately clear if it was Mount Arteale, the only active volcano in Ethiopia, which erupted some two years ago. Arteale had been largely dormant for the previous six decades, but started to spew molten lava after a series of earthquakes rattled the region in September 2005.

ALASKA- One of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian arc could be working toward a massive, explosive eruption that could affect air travel, scientists said Thursday. Satellite images of Pavlof Volcano taken Thursday showed strong thermal readings, consistent with what the Alaska Volcano Observatory is calling a "vigorous eruption of lava" at the volcano about 590 miles southwest of Anchorage on the Alaska Peninsula. The volcano lies directly in the path of hundreds of daily international flight paths, and an explosive eruption could severely interrupt those operations. Seismic activity is high at the volcano, with about one tremor recorded every minute. Mudslides — called lahars — caused when lava melts snow on the peak, have triggered some seismic activity as well. The mudslides took place on the southeast side of the volcano, an area inhabited by few, if any, people. Pavlof is about nine miles from Pavlof Bay, a popular fishing ground, but at the moment it isn't posing an immediate threat. Hazards the volcano could present include light ash fall on nearby communities, mud flows, lava flows and hot debris avalanching on the volcano's flanks. Several small towns are in the area, including King Cove, about 35 miles to the southwest, with a population of roughly 800, and Cold Bay, nearly 40 miles southwest, with a population of about 90. The ash plume was visible from King Cove, but none was falling on it yet. "What we think we're in for is several months of low-level eruptions punctuated by a few large and explosive events." A string of eruptions took place during the 1970s and 1980s, but the last one took place in 1996, making this 11-year period the longest it has gone without an event. A series of ash explosions and lava eruptions took place for several months after the last eruption. During past eruptions, sporadic lava flow has gurgled out for several months.

ALASKA- The eruption of Pavlof volcano along the Alaska Peninsula southwest of Anchorage continues to dribble molten rock down its slopes, trigger steaming lahars and spit small ash clouds into the air. The volcano awoke last week with a dramatic explosion that appears to have legs. The Alaska Volcano Observatory continues to rate the volcano's aviation hazard at the Orange level, meaning that the eruption isn't currently sending ash into flight zones but could at any time. Volcanic ash can damage or shutdown jet aircraft. Pavlof has erupted 10 (and possibly 13 times) in the past three decades, most recently in 1996. A surge in earthquakes beneath Pavlof on Aug 14 alerted scientists that it had awoken again. By Aug. 15, the volcano had begun erupting with lava, ash and steam. Cleveland Volcano - an Aleutian cone without its own seismic network - has also been sending ash into the sky. Korovin volcano is stirring too.

 

July Volcanoes 2007:    RUSSIA- The tail of ashes from the eruption of the volcano Kluchevskoy at Kamchatka spread for two thousand kilometers and reached the coast of Alaska. Above the crater of Kluchevskoy, which is considered the highest active volcano in Eurasia, the latest column of ashes rose in height up to 8.5 km. The tail of ashes spread hundreds of kilometers above the Bering Sea. Seismic stations in the area of the volcano registered volcanic trembling and local earthquakes. Lava-streams flow down the slope at temperatures over one thousand degrees Celsius. There is no danger to settlements of the peninsula. At the same time, melting of glaciers at its slopes under the influence of lava can cause the descent of powerful mud streams, threatening people and equipment in their path. Emissions and tails of ash present a danger to aviation when volcanic ashes get into the turbines of planes.

INDONESIA- poisonous fumes from an Indonesian volcano have killed six teenagers who were camping on the mountain. Families of the victims have refused autopsies but the dead are believed to have been poisoned by gases from one of two craters on the volcano. The six were found with blood and foam on their mouths and noses. Media reports say the victims, between 14 and 16 years old, were among about 50 students spending the weekend on the mountain. Indonesia has more active volcanoes than any other nation and climbing them when they are not especially active is a popular pastime. Salak, where the teens died Saturday, is just south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, and is one of the country's most popular peaks.

Thousands of new volcanoes have been found in the oceans- The true extent to which the ocean bed is dotted with volcanoes has been revealed by researchers who have counted 201,055 underwater cones. This is over 10 times more than have been found before. The team estimates that in total there could be about 3 million submarine volcanoes, 39,000 of which rise more than 1000 meters over the sea bed. "The distribution of underwater volcanoes tells us something about what is happening in the centre of the Earth." Satellites can detect volcanoes that are more than 1500 m high because the mass of the submerged mountains causes gravity to pull the water in around them. This creates domes on the ocean's surface that can be several meters high and can be detected from space. But there are a multitude of small volcanoes that have gone undetected. The only way of identifying them is to manually find their outline on sonar measurements taken from ships. Researchers were surprised to find that the density of small volcanoes dropped in the area around Iceland, as Iceland is known to be a hotspot for volcanic activity. Another surprise was that they found fewer volcanoes on the seabed around Hawaii, another volcanic hotspot. The findings may mean that researchers need to re-assess their understanding of how submarine volcanoes are formed. In 2006, a team of researchers from Japan discovered a new type of volcano which also defied conventional theories of volcanism. The "petit-spot" volcanoes, aged between one to eight million years old, did not sit at tectonic plate boundaries or over volcanic hotspots.

INDONESIA- A volcano in the eastern Indonesian province of North Maluku erupted Monday spewing hot ash and black smoke up to 4,000-metres into the sky, prompting government authorities to urge residents in endangered areas to flee. Mount Gamhonora volcano on Halmahera Island in North Maluku province, about 2,380 kilometers north-east of Jakarta, has become increasingly active in the past days. On Monday the volcano erupted belching hot ash from its crater and sending volcanic materials to nearby areas. The volcano's alert status was raised to the highest level - that means villagers in 10 villages within an eight-kilometer radius must flee. Frequent tremors have been recorded from Mount Gamhonora's crater since Sunday.

INDONESIA- Thousands of people who fled their homes around the slopes of smoldering Mount Gamkonora volcano in Indonesia have been told it is safe to return after authorities downgraded the alert status. Mount Gamkonora, on the north-east island of Halmahera, was put on top alert last week, meaning experts believed an eruption could be imminent. "We have downgraded the alert level because the seismic activity of the volcano has somehow grown much quieter and there have only been fumes emitted from the crater." The smoke curling from the crater has been very weak, reaching just 50 to 100 meters high, and the tectonic quakes registered have been very small. Last week, smoke stretched four kilometers into the air. Nearly 9,000 people were evacuated from their homes around the arid slopes of Gamkonora to safe shelters in anticipation of a possible eruption. The office says there is still a chance that the volcano could make small emissions of smoke or other material, but any eruption would not be dangerous or reach settlements

RUSSIA- Seismic activity of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has reduced to the background level. The volcano the eruption of which had started on February 15 is now relatively calm. Volcanic tremor has stopped; no earthquakes are registered. It produces only minor spews of vapor with a small content of ash from the crater. The Klyuchevskaya Sopka peak of activity was registered in the period from April to the beginning of July. Major hot lava flows (1000 degrees Celsius) were coming down the slopes. Lava was melting the glacier and water and mudflows were coming down the volcano slopes. Residents of the Klyuchi settlement located 32 kilometers from the volcano heard the volcanic roar. Volcanic dust fallout was registered in this settlement, as well as in Kozyrevsk located 45 kilometers from the gain mount. Incandescence could be observed during the night above the volcano. It spewed volcanic bombs to a height of 300 kilometers over the summit. Such phenomena have now stopped.
JAPAN- the ecosystem of Miyakejima Island, devastated by the 2000 eruption of Mount Oyama, is finally re-emerging. Exactly seven years after a series of eruptions sprayed volcanic ash across the island 180 kilometers south of Tokyo, forcing the small population to evacuate, the twittering of birds can be heard again around the Tairoike pond in the south of the island. In February 2001, only about 50 birds were seen on the 1-km path around the Tairoike pond. From around May 2002, when hundreds of caterpillar moths emerged, the number of birds began to increase. But a continuous flow of volcanic gas is suffocating the once lush forests across the island. Many trees, including cedar and sudajii have died and turned white. More and more dead trees can be seen in the east and southwestern parts of the island, where winds spread the poisonous fumes. Some trees had sprouted buds in the first year after the eruption; however, within another two to three years they began to die. At low altitudes, even tall trees are starting to perish. At the same time, grass plants that are less vulnerable are beginning to emerge. As a result, the island, once dense with groves, is becoming a patchwork of vast grassy meadows. The upheaval is making life difficult for varieties of birds that thrive in dense forests, but it is proving to be an advantage for others. "The island's current ecosystem is halfway toward recovery from the volcano eruption."

TANZANIA- Thousands of villagers living around Mount Oldonyo Lengai in Ngorongoro District have fled their homes following a volcano eruption triggered by the earth tremors that have recently hit most parts of the northern zone. Sources say more than 1,500 people, mostly Maasai herdsmen from Ngaresero, Orbalal and Nayobi villages, have abandoned their homes following the tremors. "We heard roaring sounds before the volcano started discharging ashes and lava. Thank God, nobody was injured although smoke is still visible at the top of the mountain." This is the world's only active sodium carbonite volcano and also the only one that spews natrocarbonatite lava. Natrocarbonatite lava usually contains almost no silicon and is much cooler in temperature than other lavas. Two earthquakes rated as moderate hit the Oldonyo Lengai volcanic mountain at 11:42pm on Sunday and at 12:10am the next day. Yet another tremor, this time measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, hit on Tuesday evening. This is the second volcanic eruption to occur in the northern zone since the one in March 2006, which also saw a number of villagers flee their homes for their safety.  Several mud-walled houses  belonging to the Maasai herdsmen collapsed following tremors triggered by the volcanic activity. Lava is flowing from one side of the mountain, causing panic among the villagers. Many villagers have been spending nights in the cold and are terrified. "They have started moving their animals in fear that the situation may get worse." Plans are under way to evacuate some 5,000 villagers. "Ol Doinyo Lengai is a live, volcanic mountain. It erupts almost annually but we are surprised that this time it has been accompanied by an earthquake and this is worrying us."

PHILIPPINES- The Bulusan volcano in the central Philippines spewed ash early Tuesday, blanketing fields and villages as far as five kilometers (three miles) away, but there was no immediate sign of a major eruption. Mount Bulusan has been showing signs of unrest with on-and-off ash and steam explosions since March 2006. The latest burst sent ash falling five kilometers (three miles) west of the volcano, which is in Sorsogon province about 390 kilometers (240 miles) southeast of Manila. Television reports said the ash column caused panic in the surrounding area, with residents running out of their homes. Since it last ejected ash on May 12, the mountain's northeastern slope has swelled slightly and abnormally high numbers of earthquakes have been recorded.

 

June - Volcanoes 2007:   Russian Volcano Klyuchevskoy Explodes. The 15,580-foot Klyuchevskoy Volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula has been blasting ash into the sky and burbling lava down its flanks, producing a well-monitored hazard to air traffic along the North Pacific Rim. According to the scientist, the ash plume drifts away from the settlement with a population of about 5,000, but "a very small amount of ash" nevertheless falls there. Major incandescence is observed at night time above the volcano summit. Hot volcanic bombs are spewed from the crater every five-ten seconds. The spews height reaches 500 meters, he said. "At least three such flows are clearly visible," the scientist said. The longest of them descended to the mark three kilometers above sea level. Lava is melting the glacier and water and mudflows are coming down the volcano slopes, but they pose no direct danger for the Klyuchi settlement.

Kilauea quakes may herald lava breakout, scientists say Hilo, Hawai’i — hundreds of small earthquakes that suggest magma is on the move under the surface of Kilauea volcano sent scientists and national park officials scrambling yesterday, and prompted the rare closure of most of Hawai’i volcanoes national park. – Hawaii over 230 small earthquakes shook the upper east rift zone of Kilauea volcano beginning early this morning, prompting officials to close off most of the Hawaii volcanoes national park as a precaution to protect visitors. The earthquake swarm in the upper East Rift Zone of Kilauea that started early Sunday morning is continuing but at a lower rate. Most of the earthquakes are located between Pauahi and Makaopuhi craters at depths of about 1.5-3 km. Less than 10 small earthquakes per hour are being recorded in this area compared to more than about 100 per hour Sunday morning.   

Scientists: Lava Oozes From New Fissure:  HONOLULU -- Scientists Tuesday spotted a small outbreak of lava along the Upper East Rift Zone of Kilauea Volcano. The outbreak follows a swarm of small earthquakes that shook the area Sunday, KITV reported. A third large crack has formed on Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, park officials said Wednesday. The fissure, spotted in an area a few miles southeast of Kilauea’s summit, is near two others found since hundreds of small earthquakes were recorded in the area Sunday. The fissure was spewing steam, but was not oozing lava as the others did. Heat from the fissures could spark a fire, scientists said. Kilauea volcano, which overlaps the east flank of the massive Mauna Loa shield volcano, has been Hawaii's most active volcano during historical time. Eruptions of Kilauea are prominent in Polynesian legends; written documentation extending back to only 1820 records frequent summit and flank lava flow eruptions that were interspersed with periods of long-term lava lake activity that lasted until 1924 at Halemaumau crater, within the summit caldera. The 3 x 5 km caldera was formed in several stages about 1500 years ago and during the 18th century; eruptions have also originated from the lengthy East and SW rift zones, which extend to the sea on both sides of the volcano. About 90% of the surface of the basaltic shield volcano is formed of lava flows less than about 1100 years old; 70% of the volcano's surface is younger than 600 years. A long-term eruption from the East rift zone that began in 1983 has produced lava flows covering more than 100 sq km, destroying nearly 200 houses and adding new coastline to the island.

Scenic Taal volcano in southwestern Luzon showed a degree of unrest on Sunday after it registered two earthquakes, quoting information from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Taal volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines and has produced some of its most powerful historical eruptions. In contrast to Mayon volcano, Taal is not topographically prominent, but its prehistorical eruptions have greatly changed the topography of SW Luzon. The 15 x 20 km Taal caldera is largely filled by Lake Taal, whose 267 sq km surface lies only 3 m above sea level. The maximum depth of the lake is 160 m, and several eruptive centers lie submerged beneath the lake. The 5-km-wide Volcano Island in north-central Lake Taal is the location of all historical eruptions. The island is a complex volcano composed of coalescing small stratovolcanoes, tuff rings, and scoria cones that has grown about 25% in area during historical time. Powerful pyroclastic flows and surges from historical eruptions of Taal have caused many fatalities. http://www.volcano.si.edu

HAWAII- Kilauea Volcano remains quiet following last week's brief eruption, and scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are excited about that. Earthquake swarms started several miles east of the summit June 17, lava erupted in an unusual location June 19, and then a lot of sulfur dioxide gas came to the surface as other activity slowed down. The series of events indicated magma coming from deep in the earth, and then shunting east to the eruption. "One mystery right now, though, is the disparity between how much magma we believe is still entering the volcano from the mantle, and the fact that no new lava and very little gas has been erupted at the surface for over a week...magma is still being supplied at a rate of 100 OSPs per day, where is it going, and what might happen next?" The magma created a new underground route for itself last week, a process called an intrusion. The result was a brief eruption above ground and a new, arm like dike underground. How much magma remains in the dike, how much went into the normal rift between the summit and Pu'u O'o, and how much is in the storage area under the summit remain uncertain.

 

May - Volcanoes 2007:    JAPAN- This week the Japanese coast guard said an underwater volcano was observed erupting around Minami Iwojima Island in the western Pacific. The crew of a fishing boat said it saw changes in water color as well as volcanic smoke over a 3-mile stretch of open water. The Japanese Meteorological Agency said it believes the activity is likely to be coming from a volcano called Fukutoku Okanoba. Following an eruption of that volcano in 1986, an island about 2,000 feet in diameter and 50 feet in height briefly emerged before being eroded to below sea level by ocean waves.

ITALY- Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, erupted overnight Sunday, sending jets of molten lava into the air but not threatening nearby residents. The white-hot lava jets were thrown over 600 feet above Etna while a spout on the southeast flank of the volcano released two streams of lava in the direction of an uninhabited area. There was a similar eruption on March 29. Last December the nearby airport of Catania had to be closed at night for two weeks because of ash blown into the atmosphere by volcanic activity.

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY,  - The eruption of ashes to the altitude of 500-700 meters from the Klyuchevskaya Sopka Volcano were registered in Kamchatka. The plume of ashes stretched for 105 kilometers northeast of the gigantic volcano.  More than 40 local earthquakes have rocked the volcano for the past day; a continuous volcanic shudder is registered. Two lava flows are sliding down the north-western slope of the volcano. The lava is melting down the glacier; phreatic explosions went off as a result of the contact between the lava and the ice. The gigantic volcano is discharging volcanic bombs to the altitude up to 300 meters. The thunder of the volcano is heard in the town of Klyuchi, 32 kilometers away from the giant.

Over the past month there have been eruptions at three volcanoes in Vanuatu. Ongoing eruptions are occurring at Yasur volcano on Tanna Island. Stromolian and mild Vulcanian eruptions are ejecting lava up to 300 m high. Several molten lava fragments have fallen close to observers on the crater rim, who is often unaware of potential risks at the volcano. Ash eruptions have been reported at Ambrym and Lopevi volcanoes in central Vanuatu.

RUSSIA - The Klyuchevskaya Spoka volcano on Kamchatka is emitting ash to the distance of 30-360 kilometers at the height varying from 6.5 through eight kilometers. A minor amount of ash has fallen in the village of Klyuchi, 32 kilometers away. Villagers could hear the volcano roaring, yet could not see it because of thick clouds. There is no threat to the Klyuchi population. The seismic activity of Klyucheskaya Sopka remains high. Over 220 tremors occurred over the day, and it was impossible to monitor the seismic activity of another two active volcanoes, Shiveluch and Bezymyanny. This eruption started on February 15. Lava is pouring down for nearly two kilometers and the volcano’s snowcap is melting. Meanwhile, an eruption of the Bezymyanny Volcano, also in Kamchatka, started on May 12. The volcano emitted steam and ash. Visual monitoring of the volcano was impossible as clouds were thick, but satellites confirmed a thermal anomaly. Heated gas, steam, water and rock fragments poured down the volcano slope, and an ash emission stretched northeastward. Volcanic ash fell down in the Klyuchi village, which is located 40 kilometers away. “The ash fall was rather large, about 320 grams per one square meter, which shows that the eruption was strong. It seems that the volcano emitted ash to the height of nine kilometers.” In the opinion of some experts, Bezymyanny is calming down. The latest prior eruption occurred in December 2006 and was very strong. Bezymyanny erupts once or twice a year. On another Kamchatka volcano, Shiveluch, activity started on December 5, 2006. Shiveluch volcano emitted ash to the height of 6,000 meters, and volcanic stones tumbled down volcano slopes.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Up to 2000 villagers have fled to higher ground from their seaside homes on Siassi Island in Papua New Guinea, for fear of tsunamis, after a volcanic eruption on nearby Ritter Island. There were no reports from the island of casualties, but sea surges reportedly destroyed four houses and a boat following Saturday's eruption. "They reported waves and the level of the sea rising. They still hear rumbling noises and see smoke coming out of the island and had a few tremors last night." The islands lie between the PNG mainland and the island of New Britain. The Rabaul Volcanological Observatory and the Geophysical Observatory did not pick up indicative seismic activity of the eruption on their equipment. Minor eruptions occurred on the uninhabited Ritter Island in 1972 and 1974. In 1888 half the island collapsed in an eruption that triggered massive tsunamis that claimed an estimated 3000 lives on surroundings islands and the PNG mainland. On April 2 this year an 8.1 magnitude quake triggered a tsunami in the northwest Solomon Islands that killed 52 people and left thousands homeless. Many are still camped on higher ground above their destroyed seaside homes. Aftershock quakes measuring above 5.0 magnitude continue to shake the region.  There was no seismic activity in the area to indicate that the eruption was imminent, catching the Rabaul Volcanic Observatory by surprise. Ritter Island is an active volcano. The island is spewing ash and smoke. Thousands of people on the eastern side of the Siassi Island in Morobe province are homeless after fleeing to higher grounds after the nearby active Ritter Island blew up. Reports from the area confirmed that tidal waves created by the eruption smashed into Kabi and Kampalap villages on the eastern part of Siassi Island, flattening four houses and sending about 10,000 local villagers fleeing to the hills for safety. Reports did not say whether tidal waves generated by the latest eruption were as destructive to other small islands in the area and parts of the East and West New Britain provinces. The aftershocks from the latest volcanic eruption could trigger further tsunamis and it was advisable for the people in low lying villages and areas to move to higher grounds for their safety.

 

April - Volcanoes  2007:    Instituto Geofisico-Escuela Politecnica Nacional, reported that during early March, the number of tectonic earthquakes from Reventador increased. Steam-and-ash plumes were sporadically visible and rose to altitudes of 4 km (13,000 ft) a.s.l. Occasionally during 8-22 March. On 21 March, noises were reported. The next day, seismic signals changed and indicated possible emissions. On 24 March, local people saw ash plumes and incandescent material near the crater and heard roaring noises. An explosion produced a plume that rose to an altitude of 6.6 km (21,700 ft) a.s.l. And drifted W. Based on reports from IG, the Washington VAAC reported an ash plume to altitudes of 3.7-7 km (12,000-23,000 ft) a.s.l. That drifted NE and WNW during 26-27 March. A thermal anomaly was present on satellite imagery during 24-27 March.

Spectacular Volcano Eruption on 'La Reunion' Volcano: Raging lava has spewed out of one of the world's most active volcanos on the French island of La Reunion. The red-hot lava cut roads in half, damaged homes and created huge clouds of steam as it flowed into the Indian Ocean. The volcano has spewed massive lava flow and tossed magma as high as skyscrapers. The violent eruption resulted in the collapse of the summit, magma being spewed 200m into the air and the lava cutting off a national highway. Ten days after violently awakening, a volcano on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion continued spewing lava on Sunday in what experts called "the eruption of the century."

The remote island of Ranongga in the western Solomon Islands has been elevated 3 meters out of the sea by the force of last Monday's earthquake exposing once submerged coral reefs.

MANILA, Philippines: A restive Philippine volcano shot ash and thick gray smoke four kilometers (2.5 miles) into the sky Sunday, drawing applause from tourists but renewing villagers' concerns, officials said. Breaking three months of silence, 1,560-meter (5,149-foot) Mount Bulusan, one of the country's 22 active volcanoes, belched ash and smoke for more than 20 minutes and rained ash on at least seven villages, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

After days of restlessness, Mount Bulusan Sunday spewed ash plumes for 27 minutes that reached as high as four kilometers and dusted at least 24 barrages in three towns, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. The Phivolcs said Bulusan erupted at around 5:45 a.m. It likened the activity to an "explosion-type earthquake." As of 8 a.m., 42 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded. Ash falls as thick as 1 mm to 1.5 mm in affected villages were reported.

Scientists on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion have discovered hundreds of fish of unknown species, floating belly-up in the sea, following a spectacular volcanic eruption over the past week.

BEND, Ore.— the west side of the South Sister volcano is still bulging, but not as much. The rate of expansion of the uplift has slowed to about half the previous rate on the 10,358-foot mountain, geologists say. According to data collected last summer and released Wednesday, the growth rate of the bulge is about half an inch a year. Until 2004, the bulge rose an average of just over an inch a year after it began in late 1997 or early 1998 about three miles west of the volcano's summit. Scientists believe the uplift is caused by magma — hot molten rock and gases — pushing up from deep below the Earth's surface to a depth of about 4 miles below the surface. As the magma intrudes into the rocky crust, it pushes up the ground above it. The uplift was first discovered in 2001, when a geologist in California was comparing radar images taken from satellites in different years, said Dan Dzurisin, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Wash. Since then, geologists have used a variety of techniques to measure the ground movement — including radar imaging from satellites, Global Positioning System monitoring and leveling techniques."The picture that emerged this summer is the uplift is still going on, all three techniques showed that, but it slowed some," said Dzurisin.So far, magma has pushed the center of the uplift up about 10 inches, Dzurisin said. The bulge covers an area about 10 miles in diameter on the west flank of the volcano. Geologists are interested in tracking the progress of the uplift because it's the first time they've had a chance to measure action like this in the Cascade Range, Dzurisin said. There is some information about what happened beneath Mount St. Helens a few months before its May 1980 eruption. But geologists didn't have a chance to extensively monitor its activity in the previous years to see if uplifts occurred. The slowdown in growth on the South Sister in the last couple of years wasn't a surprise to the geologists keeping a close eye on the bulge, he said."When you look at other volcanoes that have had periods of uplift, most of them last a few years," he said. "A small percentage of them result in an eruption. Most of them stop."South Sister is an active volcano that last erupted about 2,000 years ago, and is expected to erupt again, said Willie Scott, a geologist with the Cascades Volcano Observatory.

Increased volcanic activity at southern Peru's Ubinas Volcano has already caused alarm and panic among the citizens that live in the towns near the base of Ubinas. Now, the area's schoolchildren are coming down with health problems as they breathe in volcanic ash that has been released into the sky by recent explosions. According to Ubinas authority Antonio Maldonado, most of the town is covered in volcanic ash."Approximately 80% of Querapi (town adjacent to the volcano) is covered in volcanic ash. Despite this, many people have returned to their homes after residents complained that they were not helped when they evacuated to Chagechajen (point of evacuation)," informed Maldonado. Peru's CPN Radio reports that 4 children between the ages of 14 and 15 have experienced fainting spells and vomiting, causing profound concern among their parents and classmates. "These children are students from Querapi School, which is near the Volcano and it has been determined that they were affected by breathing in the volcanic ash," added Maldonado.  Ubinas volcano, located in the southern Peruvian region of Moquegua, has seen a dramatic increase in activity lately. Authorities evacuated the area but apparently the majority of residents have returned after receiving little to no help from the evacuation sites.

NEIVA, Colombia -- Thousands of people were evacuated after a long-dormant volcano erupted late Tuesday and again early Wednesday, provoking avalanches and floods that swept away houses and bridges. The Nevadaodel Huila volcano's eruptions were its first on record since Colombia was colonized by the Spanish 500 years ago. The volcano began erupting one month ago after being dormant for 452 years.  

 

March - Volcanoes 2007:   Scientists are to sail to the mid-Atlantic to examine a massive "open wound" on the Earth's surface. Dr Chris MacLeod, from Cardiff University, said the Earth's crust appeared to be completely missing in an area thousands of kilometers across. The hole in the crust is midway between the Cape Verde Islands and the Caribbean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The team will survey the area, up to 5km (3 miles) under the surface, from ocean research vessel RRS James Cook. Dr MacLeod said the hole in the Earth's crust was not unique, but was recognized as one of the most significant. He said it was an "open wound on the surface of the Earth", where the oceanic crust, usually 6-7km thick (3.7-4.3 miles), was simply not there. "Usually the plates are pulled apart and to fill the gap the mantle underneath has to rise up. As it comes up it starts to melt. That forms the magma," he said. "That's the normal process. Here it has gone awry for some reason. "The crust does not seem to be repairing itself." Dr MacLeod said the research could lead to a "new way of understanding" the process of plate tectonics. The scientist will test theories he developed after visiting the area in 2001 - including the possibility the missing crust was caused by a "detachment fracture". "Effectively it's a huge rupture - one side is being pulled away from the other. It's created a rupture so big it's actually pulled the entire crust away. "We also think the mantle did not melt as much as usual and that the normal amount of mantle was not produced." As a result, the mantle is exposed to seawater, creating a rock called serpentinite.

SALT LAKE CITY, March 2 -- A 17-year U.S. study shows the power of the huge volcanic hotspot beneath Yellowstone National Park is much greater than thought. The $2.3 million, 1987-2004 University of Utah study revealed the approximately 300-mile-wide underground plume of molten rock known as the Yellowstone hotspot exerts itself forcefully even when not triggering eruptions and earthquakes.” The Yellowstone hotspot has had a much bigger effect over a larger area with more energy than ever expected," said University of Utah geophysics Professor Robert Smith, who led the study.” We’re seeing large-scale deformation of the Earth's crust in the western United States because of the effects of the Yellowstone hotspot," added Christine Puskas, a geophysics doctoral student and the study's first author. The research -- conducted by Smith, Puskas, postdoctoral fellow Wu-Lung Chang and former Utah researcher Chuck Meertens -- focused on the Yellowstone caldera, a gigantic volcanic crater formed by a catastrophic eruption 642,000 years ago that was 1,000 times bigger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The research is to appear in the March 2 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research -- Solid Earth.

Mount Ruapehu: The Mountain That Will Explode: New Zealand - Any day now, a massive torrent of mud and rocks is going to roar down the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, on New Zealand's North Island, engulfing everything in its path.

Vesuvius a Threat to 300,000 Lives: ROME - The next eruption of Vesuvius could kill at least 300,000 people, almost 20 times as many as the 79AD disaster that buried the ancient city of Pompeii, according to Italian government research.

PHILLIPINES - Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon spewed thick smoke Sunday, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to raise an alert on the volcano, radio DZBB reported.

Stromboli Volcano Lets Off Some Steam: SICILY - On a tiny Sicilian island, residents have learned to live with a neighbor that never stops showing off. He belches, has a hot temper and there's been some serious worry he could blow his top.

Chikurachki Volcano Stirs In Northern Kurils: PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY - Chikurachki, the highest volcano on Paramushir Island in Russia's Far East, erupted Monday.

QUITO, Ecuador Authorities evacuated about 100 families from the slopes of a volcano in central Ecuador, which began showering villages with flaming rocks and ash last month.

Volcano Warning After Indonesian Earthquake: JAKARTA. - An earthquake that killed more than 70 people in western Indonesia may have led to heightened activity at three volcanoes, experts warned today.

Lava Dome Of Montserrat's Volcano Swells To Near Record Size: A dome of hardened lava over Montserrat's Soufriere Hills volcano has swollen to near-record size and could collapse, sending volcanic material toward a populated area of the Caribbean island, a government scientist said Friday.

Ash from Montserrat's Volcano Disrupts Puerto Rico Flights SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Ash from the active Soufriere Hills volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat disrupted airport traffic Saturday in Puerto Rico, prompting delays and cancellations by several airlines.

Scientists: Lightning Good Indicator of Volcano Eruptions A new study by Geophysical Institute researchers links lightning activity to volcanic eruptions. Since the 1960's, intense lightning displays have been recorded accompanying many large-scale volcanic eruptions. For the first time, scientists were able to collect data fully describing lightning activity during the 2006 Mt. Augustine eruption, according to an article published in the journal Science last week.

San Salvador - The continuous telluric movements in the perimeters of volcano Santa Ana, west of El Salvador, are keeping authorities of the National Territorial Studies Service (SNET) in alert.

Guatemala's National Disaster Reduction Coordination office declared an orange alert on Friday after the Fuego Volcano, some 45 km from Guatemala City, erupted and triggered waves of small earthquakes. The eruption spewed ash 500 meters into the air, and triggered 20 to 30 small earthquakes a minute. The warning affects more than 31,000 people living in 14 nearby towns. Eruption records of Fuego Volcano, one of the country's most active volcanoes, date back to 1542, and at its fiercest it could spray ash all the way to El Salvador or Honduras.

The torrent of water and mud, which burst out of the hot Crater Lake atop Mt Ruapehu on the North Island’s volcanic, plateau today could have been far worse, say authorities. A seven-meter high soft rock and ash dam that had penned the lake since the mountain erupted violently in 1995 finally gave way late this morning. There has been a series of small earthquakes in New Zealand following the collapse of a volcanic crater lake. Our New Zealand correspondent, Peter Lewis, reports an estimated 1.3 million cubic meters of mud and volcanic debris drained out of Mount Ruapehu's crater lake, after its banks burst.
'Ebeko' Volcano off Russia's Pacific Coast Shows Signs of Activity: Russia - A volcano on the northern Kuril island of Paramushir, off Russia's Pacific Coast, is again showing signs of activity, local meteorological services said Thursday.

Mt. 'Bulusan' Acts Up Anew: Philippines - Mt. Bulusan showed increased activity on Thursday as a handful of high frequency volcanic earthquakes jolt the area frequently. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that four high frequency quakes were noted in the past 24 hours. Steaming was also observed atop the crater.

Indonesia has raised the alert level for the smoking Mount Batutara volcano, warning fishermen and others to stay away from the remote island. Local official Sentianus Medi says the alert level has been raised to the second of four possible levels

St. Helens May Continue Dome-Building for Decades: Picture a line of pickup trucks dumping loads of lava every few seconds, and you have an idea how quickly lava is piling up in the crater of Mount St. Helens. Now imagine that stream of vehicles continuing, day and night, for a generation. Mount St. Helens may be following the example of Kilauea in Hawaii with magma being replaced from a reservoir beneath the volcano as fast as it emerges as lava at the surface, scientists say.

New Report Issued on Montserrat Volcano BRADES, Montserrat - According to Montserrat's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), the Soufriere Hills lava dome has continued to grow at a high rate, since the 20th of May 2006 collapse. It now has a volume of over 200 million cubic meters and a summit elevation greater than 1050 meters above sea level.

15,000 Flee 'Komba' Volcano KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The Lembata Regental Administration on Komba Island has ordered local residents to stay away from Mount Batutara, as hot lava, rocks and poisonous gas spew from the mountain's crater.  

Two Volcanoes Emitting Lava and gas in Russian Far East Russia - Mount Klyuchevskaya has started emitting lava on the Kamchatka Peninsula and another volcano in Russia's Far East, Shiveluch, spewed out gas and ash, a local geophysics service said Thursday.

 QUITO, Ecuador - A volcano in Ecuador's Andes erupted Friday, shooting plume of ash nearly two miles into the sky but causing no injuries or damage, authorities said. The head of Peru’s ‘Disaster Prevention and Training center’ (PREDES), Gilberto Romero, requested on Friday that regional government authorities of the southern region of Moquegua reactivate evacuation plans of the population living near the Ubinas volcano in lieu of a possible new eruption.

 

Febuary - Volcanoes 2007:    Geologists Watch as African Continent is Torn Apart: Seismic activity is tearing Africa apart and scientists are geared up to watch the ripping landscape in an unprecedented set of observations. Volcano Gets Choke Chains to Slow Mud Indonesian geophysicists hope to stem the flow of a destructive mud volcano on East Java by dropping chains of concrete balls into its mouth. The mud eruption began on 29 May last year in the middle of a rice paddy in the village of Porong, 30 kilometers south of Surabaya, and the provincial capital. Since then, the volcano has spewed out up to 126,000 cubic meters of mud a day, flooding an area of more than 4 square kilometers.

Undersea Volcano May Have Caused Quakes: SANTIAGO, Chile -- A wave of small earthquakes that has caused alarm in southern Chile may be related to the birth of an undersea volcano, according to officials.

White Island about to blow? - There have been more tremors at White Island off Whakatane. Equipment monitoring the Crater Lake shows seismic activity at the island has increased over the last three weeks. Shakes on Friday and the increasing lake temperature have scientists on volcano watch. They warn visitors to the island to be aware of the dangers, but there is no evidence of a full-scale lava eruption at this stage. The lake is now 74 degrees Celsius, which has caused rapid evaporation of water and the lake's level to drop six meters. Several hot pools and waterways on the island have begun to dry up. The volcano has released an increased amount of sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over recent months. None of the normal tests are giving much indication about what exactly is going on and scientists will keep monitoring the volcano. For now, the alert level is at one and will only be increased once volcanic eruptions start. White Island last erupted in 2000.

Klyuchevskoi volcano has begun erupting on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East. The eruption does not immediately threaten the peninsula's settlements, but volcanic ash, consisting of magma particles with a diameter of up to 2 millimeters (.078 inches), can poison land and water. Ash emissions and trails can also present a danger to aircraft. At about 11 a.m. Moscow time (8 a.m. GMT), experts at the institute's monitoring station observed a pulsating glow above the giant volcano's crater, indicating that fresh magma was rising to the surface. The ash trail from the eruption has already spread 35 kilometers (21 miles) to the southwest of Klyuchevskoi. Volcanologists predicted the volcano's imminent eruption three weeks ago.

Kamchatka’s Shiveluch Volcano Emits Ash to 5.2 Kilometers KAMCHATSKY -- The Shiveluch Volcano in Kamchatka has emitted ash to the height of 5.2 kilometers, a source at the Kamchatka office of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Geophysical Service told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

Colombian Volcano Erupts Causing Landslide, No Injures BOGOTA, Colombia: The Nevado del Huila volcano erupted Monday, spewing a column of ash hundreds of meters (thousands of feet) into the air and triggering a series of tremors that set off a small avalanche.

Popocatepetl Volcano Is Active Again MEXICO - Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention informed Monday that over the past 24 hours the Popocatepetl Volcano spewed 11 low-intensity emissions accompanied by water vapor, gas and small amounts of ash.

Volcano Erupts In Arakan A volcano located on Rambree Island in Arakan State, Burma, erupted yesterday as local people closely watched the situation without fear, reported townspeople yesterday by phone to Narinjara.

Kamchatka Volcano Causes Black Ash To Fall In Remote Village PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY - Black volcanic ash has covered a village 40 kilometers (25 miles) away from Eurasia's highest volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East, local geophysicists said Monday.

ROME  A volcano on the tiny Sicilian Island Stromboli erupted Tuesday, spewing lava into the sea and sparking a warning from authorities worried it could cause a small tsunami. The island was almost entirely evacuated in early 2002 after a landslide caused a wave of water that in turn caused several minor injuries. Authorities with Italy's Civil Protection Department feared the latest eruption would cause another such landslide. "At present, there are risks for the population but the risks are minor for those who are following instructions," Guido Bertolaso, head of the Civil Protection Department, told Sky TG24 News. Bertolaso said people living on Stromboli have been told to stay 10 meters above sea level and those on the nearby islands of Panarea and Lipari have been advised to do the same. Stromboli, 65 kilometers north of Sicily, is noted for frequent minor eruptions and attracts tourists eager to see lava inching down the side of the volcano. It is the northernmost of seven islands in the Aeolian archipelago north of Sicily. In spring 2003, the volcano sent hardened lava raining down on some of the settlements nestled in the folds of its green slopes. A few chunks crashed into houses. Stromboli is not the only active volcano in southern Italy, with Mount Etna in Sicily coming to life every few months.

 

January - Volcanoes 2007:   Montserrat  Hundreds of people living at the base of Montserrat's Soufriere Hills volcano evacuated as a lava dome grew to dangerous levels in the British Caribbean Island. Scientists say that the dome could crumble and send blistering gas and volcanic debris down the slopes of the volcano, potentially destroying homes in the low-lying Belham Valley. "Residents in these areas are advised not to panic and to start preparations for moving to safe area," Chief Minister Lowell Lewis said after the first siren sounded Wednesday. The volcanic dome had been building rapidly and has topped the highest part of the 914-metre volcano, which coughs up ash and bursts its lava cap every few months. Scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory said some pyroclastic flows already have been observed but that they are at a safe distance. However, the observatory warned that the pyroclastic flows could escalate significantly. The Soufriere Hills volcano sprang to life in 1995, and more than half the territory's 12,000 inhabitants moved away. An eruption in 1997 buried much of the south, including the capital of Plymouth, and killed 19 people.

January 3 marked the 24th anniversary of Kilauea’s LONGEST RIFT-ZONE ERUPTION IN THE LAST 600 YEARS. In the early years of this eruption, lava fountains as high as 460 m (1,500 ft) burst from Pu`u `O`o every three to four weeks. In the summer of 1986, the eruption shifted to a new vent, named Kupaianaha, 3 km (1.9 mi) downrift. Kupaianaha was the site of continuous eruption for the next 5.5 years. The eruption changed its style as well as its location, becoming less exuberant with age. Episodic lava fountains were replaced by quiet, steady effusion. Lava reached the ocean in November 1986, traveling through lava tubes most of the way. Vog became an island issue as the continuous activity produced a pall of sulphurous air that has been with it ever since. The past year has been relatively quiet, with lava flows mostly recoating older flows.

8-The volcano that destroyed Montserrat's capital in 1997 shot a cloud of ash more than five miles into the sky on Monday, and one of the Caribbean island's chief scientists said the blast was “a warning call.” The government has advised about 50 families on the northwestern side of the volcano's base that their homes were at risk from flows of blistering gas and debris if the dome collapses. The blast, accompanied by increased seismic rumbling, released gases and steam from inside a lava dome that has grown rapidly over the last week. The volcano's latest burst of activity began on Dec. 24. Glowing streaks of red from the pyroclastic flows have created nighttime spectacles visible across much of the island. The volcano's rising dome remained in place after Monday's explosion, raising fears of a bigger event soon.

Managua - Nicaragua's Telica volcano, one of six active in the Central American nation, threw a column of ash and gas hundreds of feet into the air on Tuesday. Around 2 500 people live close to the volcano, but no one was evacuated.

BRADES, Montserrat: The onset of explosive activity from Montserrat's Soufriere Hills volcano has caused the country’s Governor to declare a mandatory evacuation for affected communities and extend the exclusion zone to include the new areas that are now unsafe to enter.

Huge Threat Posed by Auckland Volcanoes. Geologists say new research shows there have been seven eruptions in the Auckland volcano field which each buried the region where the city lies under more than 10cm of ash. "That amount of ash would cause chaos in Auckland," said GNS Science volcanologist Graham Leonard. "From a hazard point of view, that is pretty significant".

Volcano Erupts in Comoros, Spewing Lava and Rattling Residents. A volcano spat forth lava and black smoke early Saturday on an island in Comoros in the Indian Ocean, triggering tremors throughout the day and rattling residents, officials said.

'Comoros' Volcano Tremors Grow Stronger. MORONI - Earth tremors from 'Comoros' volcano Mount Karthala grew stronger and more frequent, residents said on Sunday, forcing thousands of nervous families to sleep outside overnight for fear their homes might collapse. Grand Comore, was put on red alert after Mount Karthala began to glow red and emit suffocating fumes late on Friday. While lava levels inside the crater have subsided, earth tremors have become more frequent. Tremors were lasting up to five seconds and had reached five on the Richter scale. "The lava and the gases remain trapped and are looking to crack through the mountain. It seems the main chimney is blocked. The frequency of the tremors shows that a (lava) flow could happen in any part of the island." "The tremors get stronger and stronger every 15 minutes. A good number of people have packed their bags, ready to flee in case of eruption." A resident from a village on the volcano's western slope said high temperatures had made the air dry. "It feels like everything will explode.” MOUNT KARTHALA, which overlooks the capital of the Comoros islands, began erupting early Saturday, producing a red glow over the top of the volcano. The eruption was similar to last one in May 2006, which saw fiery jets of lava shoot into the main crater of the only active volcano on the Indian Ocean archipelago, creating eerily glowing red clouds in the night skies over the capital Moroni just 15 kilometers (nine miles) away.

Thousands Could be at Risk in UK if Iceland Volcano Erupts  A WELSH scientist believes up to 100,000 UK residents are at risk of being killed by a noxious gas cloud from an Icelandic volcano. He is claiming huge numbers of previously little-studied deaths down the centuries can be attributed to periodic gas releases from massive eruptions on the volcanic island.

Comoros Plans for 30,000 Volcano Refugees  MORONI - Authorities in the Comoros islands have made emergency plans to help as many as 30,000 people expected to be uprooted if one of the world's largest active volcanoes erupts, officials said on Tuesday.

Comoros Island Shakes, Volcano Still a Threat  MORONI - 'Comoros' largest island shook twice on Thursday, residents said, and experts said there was still a threat of eruption from the Indian Ocean archipelago's Mount Karthala volcano despite the tremors weakening.
When a Killer Cloud Hit Britain U.K. - A little over 200 years ago, the eruption of a volcano in Iceland sent a huge toxic cloud across Western Europe. It was the greatest natural disaster to hit modern Britain, killing many thousands - but it has been almost forgotten by history.

Hudson Volcano Rumbling and Fears of an Eruption SOUTHERN CHILE- Chilean authorities in the XI Region of Aysén are closely monitoring the repeated tremors in the area and are prepared for the event of a major seism or the eruption of the Hudson volcano.

Bulusan Volcano Spews Ash Anew Legazpi City -- Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon province showed new signs of restiveness as it spewed ash anew on Wednesday evening on nearby villages. Hundreds of earthquakes and tremors have shaken Chile’s remote Aysen region for a week, causing anxiety among locals. Quakes have registered between 2 and 5.4 on the Richter scale. Tectonic movement along the seismic fault that runs from the 9th to the 11th regions is causing the earthquakes. Residents worried that volcanic activity was producing the tremors, a sign of imminent eruption. The phenomenon has brought back memories of the 1991 disaster caused by the Hudson Volcano, which erupted for over five months, covering the area with ash and killing tens of thousands of farm animals. The eruption of Hudson was preceded by a similar spate of tremors and earthquakes. Many in the Aysen region have experienced stress, anxiety and even panic attacks because of the shaking. Anti-anxiety medication and eye-masks have been on high demand to combat widespread insomnia. In addition to the stress caused by the threat of an eruption, residents worry about the state’s capacity to deal with a disaster. Residents have been warned to take precautionary measures, such as disconnecting gas lines and unplugging electronic devices at night. They are also stocking up on emergency supplies like bottled water, canned goods, batteries and candles.

Ash Plume from Shiveluch Volcano on Kamchatka PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY - A plume of ash from the eruption of the Shiveluch volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has stretched for 210 kilometers southwest of the giant mount, the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN) told Itar-Tass.