Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion – John Seach

The short-lived eruption at Piton de la Fournaise volcano is over. For the first time since 2007, lava has flowed outside the crater. The lava flows were widely visible from the shore of Reunion, and by daybreak yesterday only fumaroles were active. Lava flows were no longer active and there was a gradual decrease in the intensity of volcanic tremor. From 5:30 pm on 5th November earthquakes occurred at a rate of one to two per minute, then at 7:30 pm a seismic crisis lasted for an hour, followed by a pause. Around 9 pm volcanic tremor signaled the start of the eruption. The volcano provided a spectacle with lava flows lighting up the sky and attracting attention motorists between St. Philip and Piton Sainte-Rose. Motorists traveling on the road were the first witnesses the lava flow and raise the alarm at 9:15 pm. They described mostly fountains and lava flows. The eruption consisted of multiple lava flows which moved rapidly down the slope. Two fissures appeared to have opened up on the east side near the summit. The police of Saint-Philippe encouraged motorists to be careful and not to park anywhere to watch the eruption. There were no road closures. Residents heard about the eruption on the radio and started to come, but the crowd was not large due to the time of the night. Between 11:10 and 11:15 pm, volcanic tremor had almost disappeared. Up until 12:30 pm about a hundred people stood at the foot of la rampe du Tremblet in the Grand Brûlé and observed the lava flows. On the morning of 6th November at 6:45 am a police helicopter flew over the area. The reconnaissance flight confirmed that two fractures opened between the south and east of the summit crater Dolomieu, which produced lava flows far from the road. The summary from the volcanologists is as follows: at 20.50, the eruption has started in the south cliff inside Dolomieu crater. At 21.05, the crack was extended and opened on the east-southeast near the crater rim of Dolomieu. At 21h20: a second crack opened on the eastern slope of the summit cone. Two lava flows were visible on the flanks of Piton de la Fournaise. The volcano has been plunged into a relative calm. The situation remains unstable. A second eruption may start at any time warned scientists from the volcano observatory.
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Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, Reunion – John Seach

An eruption commenced on 5th November 2009 at Piton de la Fournaise volcano, Reunion Island. For the past several days seismic activity increased, with 167 earthquakes occurring at the volcano yesterday. The eruption occurred at Dolomieu crater with a lava fountain and a lava flow on the southeast slope.
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Krakatau Volcano, Indonesia – John Seach

Alert level at Krakatau volcano in Indonesia has been lowered from Siaga (Level III) to Waspada (Level II). Explosion earthquakes measured over the past few months were August 4311, September 541, and October 34. There has been a significant decline in eruptive activity at the volcano since August 2009. People are still advised to avoid landing on Anak Krakatau. Communities in the coastal areas of Banten and Lampung have been warned not to believe runours that the eruption Anak Krakatau will cause a tsunami. Fishing boats are permitted around Anak Krakatau.
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Chaiten Volcano, Chile – John Seach

The Mayor of Chaiten has said that some residents wish to return to the town which was destroyed by the eruptions in 2008-09. Residents are still displaced from the town 18 months after the eruption. There are many people still living in the surrounding area of Chaiten, and some assistance is being given to people still living in the town, such as supply of emergency water, provision of street lighting, and clearing of ash from the streets. Last week a tourism meeting was held in Futaleufu, Chile, near Chaiten town where the current state of Chaiten volcano was discussed. A scientist from National Service of Geology and Mining of Chile said that nothing can be predicted, only scenarios can be imagined. In the case of Chaitén, it is believed there is a high likelihood that the eruption is maintained for several more months. Tremors detected in the region of El Bolson are not associated with volcanic activity but are due to fracture of rock by Liquiñe-Ofqui tectonic fault. Along this fault are several active volcanoes such as Hudson, which erupted in 1991 with one of the most violent eruptions in the history of Chile. Chaiten volcano continues to erupt on RED alert, and Chaiten town remains an uninhabitable zone.
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Galeras Volcano, Colombia – John Seach

Since 27th October 2009 there has been a marked change in the activity at Galeras volcano in Colombia. There has been a significant decrease in emissions of sulphur dioxide and an increase in earthquakes associated with volcanic overpressure in the system. Galeras has been increased to level 2 alert.
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Mayon Volcano, Philippines – John Seach

The fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines in a month has forced the evacuation of 10,000 people from around Mayon volcano, due to the threat of lahars. Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines and has been erupting small amounts of ash this month. A large eruption in 2006 deposited lava and ash on the slopes of the volcano which may be mobilised after heavy rain.
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Mayon Volcano, Philippines – John Seach

An ash emission occurred at Mayon volcano, Philippines at 05;32 hr on Wednesday 28th October 2009. The eruption lasted for one minute, and produced a brown ash plume which rose to a maximum height of 600 meters above the crater and drifted northeast. Over the past 24-hours, the seismic network recorded 13 volcanic earthquakes. There is a six-kilometer permanent danger zone and a seven-km extended danger zone around the volcano. Residents are advised to beware of lahars after heavy rain.
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Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii – John Seach

A lava flow crossed the former Kalapana road around 1:45 am on 23rd October, 2009, at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. The lava flow stopped moving by afternoon, but the road continued to burn, igniting trees in the surrounding kipuka. The lava flows remained active Saturday afternoon and were advancing in a southeast direction from the road in the kipuka between the 1989 Quarry flow, where a Public Viewing Area and trail was established.
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Banda Sea Earthquake, Indonesia (Mag 7.0) – John Seach

On 24th October 2009 at 11:40 pm local time, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit 40 km NE of Serua volcano, and 70 km south of Manuk volcano, Indonesia. The earthquake epicentre was located undersea at 6.161°S, 130.346°E, and focus was at a depth of 138 km. No tsunami was generated. Serua volcano last erupted in 1921.
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Sumbing Volcano, Sumatra, Indonesia – John Seach

In late October 2009 wildlife rangers on the western slope of Sumbing volcano felt earthquakes, and observed new solfatara, and areas of burnt vegetation.
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