Volcano watch 2006

Yes, it seems confirmed that Merapi´s thread eases.

Merapi remains at the second-highest alert level, meaning the mountain is still dangerous, but the decision means that thousands of people living on its slopes who have fled their homes can return home, said Yousana Siagian, head of the Indonesian government's Vulcanology and Disaster Mitigation Center.
Source: CNN

link

Merapi is back to the highest alert again. Just took a breather for a couple of days I guess.

cnews.canoe.ca...
news.bbc.co.uk...

source

Mt. Bulusan has exploded again. Villagers fled as the volcano sent steam and ash into their village.

SORSOGON CITY—Residents scampered for safety on Tuesday evening as Mt. Bulusan exploded again, sending ash and steam 1.5 km above its summit.

The alert level for Mount Merapi was raised to its highest status again as the volcano dumped thick ash on scores of houses.

On Thursday, crews struggled to reach two people trapped in an underground emergency shelter, officials said. Five other villagers were reportedly missing.

The rescuers had been in touch with the two by cell phone. The bunkers, several of which dot the slopes of Merapi, are typically equipped with water and food.

Scientists had thought the 9,700-foot volcano was calming after weeks of activity when a gas cloud cracked its fragile lava dome June 8, easing the buildup of pressure.

[ CNN Merapi full story

Am I the only one thinking it was too early to allow villagers to return to their homes?
No, surely not.

I'm not too clued up on volcanos and earthquakes but have been following the other thread on this forum re: the many earthquakes which have taken place in Alaska over the last 24 hours or so and was wondering whether the Alaskan earthquakes are related to the increased volcanic activity discussed in this thread. Can anybody enlighten me?

Maybe it's linked with the pacific fault line and that a californian earthquake that everyone is worried about is near? We'll see in the coming weeks... That would be disastrous if a 9.0+ earthquake would hit San Francisco...

A 9+ earthquake ANYWHERE would be disasterous!

link

Soldiers trying to rescue two people trapped in an underground emergency shelter, had their shovels melt. Why are they letting these people back in.

MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia (AP) -- Soldiers wearing heat-retardant clothing dug through volcanic debris Thursday trying to reach two people trapped in an underground emergency shelter on Indonesia's most volatile volcano, officials said.

The fierce heat melted the troops' shovels and the tires on a mechanical digger brought in to plow through more than six feet of debris covering the bunker, which was built for protection from volcanic eruptions, said Maj. Sunarso, who goes by one name.

Two more volcanoes are raised to Alert level 1.

Big Ben on Heard Island, Australia.

www.volcano.si.edu...

Tongariro, New Zealand.

www.volcano.si.edu...

source

Here we go again.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' restive Mount Bulusan spewed ash and small rocks in a new explosion Sunday, prompting army troops and authorities to evacuate nearly 100 residents from one ash-hit village because of health concerns, officials said.

With the new ash explosion, Bulusan's eighth since March, Filipino scientists said they would assess anew the possibility of a major eruption.

Renato Solidum, director of the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology, said the explosion belched ash up to 1.2 miles into the sky. Scientists said they needed to gather more details and possibly conduct a second aerial survey of Bulusan's summit in a week before they can assess the prospects of a major eruption.

The Cascades Vulcano Observatory confirms the slight increase in the amplitude of the small earthquakes at Mount St. Helens:

Recent observations: This morning the lava dome is shrouded in clouds. Small “drumbeat” earthquakes have increased slightly in amplitude in recent days though not to a degree that would signal dramatic new behavior. No other significant new activity.
...
The eruption could intensify suddenly or with little warning and produce explosions that cause hazardous conditions within several miles of the crater and farther downwind. Small lahars could suddenly descend the Toutle River if triggered by heavy rain or by interaction of hot rocks with snow and ice.
Cascades Volcano Observatory - St. Helens

Another small earthquake occured, magnitude 3.3
USGS St. Helens area earthquake
Location 46.200°N, 122.192°W
Depth 0 km (~0 mile) set by location program
Region MOUNT ST. HELENS AREA, WASHINGTON
# Distances 1 km (1 miles) W (271°) from Mount St. Helens Volcano, WA

Edited in order to add:

BTW, I forgot telling you that the above mentioned statement of the Cascades Volcano Observatory was issued on the 18th (yesterday).

[edit on 19-6-2006 by Ptolomeo]

Originally posted by valkeryie
Two more volcanoes are raised to Alert level 1.

How many volcanoes are currently on Alert level 1? How many at two, etc.? Are we clearly at a period of activity that is extraordinary yet?

Originally posted by Relentless

Originally posted by valkeryie
Two more volcanoes are raised to Alert level 1.

How many volcanoes are currently on Alert level 1? How many at two, etc.? Are we clearly at a period of activity that is extraordinary yet?

I am not sure if there is an updated website about it, but here is a link to one that seems to have the latest alerts:
SWVRC

At least it gives an idea and then you can always check a specific volcano to confirm...

Or, this site has a good list of the current active/unrest activity for the past week.
Also shows the ongoing activity of volcanoes.

www.volcano.si.edu...

source

Thu, June 22, 2006

Volcano still a huge threat
By AP
MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia -- Indonesia's Mount Merapi sent avalanches of searing hot gas and debris roiling down its scorched slopes yesterday, and a scientist warned the peak's fragile lava dome still posed a threat to thousands of villagers.

Mt. Merapi is still a huge threat to the villagers that live below it. Rain could bring the lava dome down in avalanches of debris.

www.boston.com...

If forecasts of rain on Wednesday and Thursday hold, millions of metric tons of built-up ash and rock fragments could be sent down Merapi's steep slopes in mudslides, a vulcanologist warned.

He said rain threatened to cause landslides in a government-designated no-go zone where many villagers are still tending crops and livestock, despite orders from authorities to evacuate. While several hundred farmers remained behind, thousands of other villagers were living in government shelters.

source

Another volcano seems to be waking up.

Mount Canlaon in Negros Island in the central Philippines, some 500 km south of Manila, spewed ash on its upper slope on Saturday afternoon, according to a report of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The ash emission was the third within two days, the report said, adding that Saturday's steam clouds rose higher to 1,500 meters.

more active volcanoes:

Tungurahua Volcano in Equador

Mount Ubinas, Peru

i think it has got to the stage at the moment with all this activity goin on just now, what should we be more concerned about?

should we worry about the possible terror threats?

should we be worried about the state our countries politics?

or should we all be more concerned with the increased activity in volcanoes,earth quakes and floods etc?

i say the last one, why? because if we can suvive the first to options and come out fighting. with mother nature its a whole new ball game.

i am truly concerned with all this, as should everyone else. thank you to those that have been posting this information

Level 4!!!!!

Montserrat now at volcano level 4 alert
BRADES, Montserrat: Scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) have reported that there is an ongoing swarm of volcanic earthquakes at shallow depths, “the likes of which have not been seen at the MVO for years.”

On Monday, June 26, 2006, the Governor’s Office released a press statement stating that Montserrat’s authorities have increased the volcanic alert to level 4.

this is what Level 4 means:

www.volcanolive.com...
Eruption of new magma. Sustained high levels of unrest indicators, significant effects beyond volcano. Hazardous local eruption in progress. Large scale eruption now possible.

Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano registers 50 explosions in 24 hours.

QUITO, Jun 27, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Ecuador's National Geophysical Agency said on Tuesday the Tungurahua volcano had registered 50 explosions in the past 24 hours.

The Tungurahua volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in Ecuador, started its second activity peak this May since the eruption process began in August 1999.

www.reliefweb.int...

Guatemala Volcano Red Hot

Guatemala, Jun 28 (Prensa Latina) The Volcano of Fire´s activity increased Wednesday risks of disaster in Guatemala, already affected by intensive rains that provoked floods and collapses in several towns and this capital.


The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction has already given first warnings for the possible evacuation of some 500 people.

www.plenglish.com...)&EN