A large undersea volcano hundreds of miles off the coast of Oregon is showing signs of an impending eruption later this year, and it’s set to be publicly livestreamed.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
This week, a volcano located near Iceland’s capital erupted for the seventh time in a one-year span, according to the nation’s meteorological office.
The eruption began sporadically at 11:14 p.m. Wednesday and created a fissure about two miles long, spewing lava and smoke, according to reports from NBC News. The activity is shown to be considerably smaller than the last eruption that took place in August.
Iceland’s meteorological office that monitors seismic activity stated that the first signs of an eruption were recorded about 45 minutes before a massive ground fissure opened up with magma coming through the earth’s crust.
The office also said that authorities did previously warn of volcanic activity with magma accumulating 20 miles southwest of the capital Reykjavik beneath the Reykjavik peninsula. The same location just experienced an eruption that ended on September 6th.
“In the big picture, this is a bit smaller than the last eruption, and the eruption that occurred in May,” said Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, a professor of geophysics, who traveled to the site of the eruption along with the Civil Protection agency.
These specific outbreaks on the peninsula are called fissure eruptions, and they haven’t directly impacted the city or caused any traffic disruptions.
Flights through Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport were also unaffected and no crucial infrastructure is in danger, however, luxury spa Blue Lagoon had to shut down and evacuate their guests due to their proximity to the eruption, according to RUV.
Grindavík, a fishing town, is typically the home to about 4,000 residents, however, it’s remained mostly deserted since December of last year due to consistent eruption threats.
“There was no indication that lava was flowing towards the town, but some 50 houses occupied by people who have returned were evacuated,” the civil protection agency said in a statement according to NBC.
“Grindavík is not in danger as it looks and it is unlikely that this crack will get any longer, although nothing can be ruled out,” Magnús Tumi said.
Experts in the area have now warned that Reykjanes will likely experience repeated volcanic eruptions for decades to come.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency reported this Monday that at least six people have passed away after a series of intense volcanic eruptions occurred on the remote island of Flores in eastern Indonesia.
Mount Lewotobi Laki erupted just after midnight on Monday, releasing thick ash clouds up to 6,500 feet into the air. The hot ashes quickly reached a nearby village causing multiple properties to burn down, including homes, and a convent for Catholic nuns, according to Firman Yosef, an official at the Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki monitoring post.
The Disaster Management Agency hasn’t fully confirmed the amount of people who have died as they’re consistently receiving updated information from local authorities.
Authorities have also been raising the danger level and extending the danger zone for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki today. The mountain experienced a series of other eruptions that began last week.
Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency has increased their volcano alert status to the highest level possible and has vastly increased their exclusion zones to a 4.3 mile radius after the eruptions early Monday morning became more frequent.
The agency also stated that at least 10,000 people have been impacted by the eruption, which took place in the Wulanggitang District, including the six nearby villages of Pululera, Nawokote, Hokeng Jaya, Klatanlo, Boru, and Boru Kedang.
The Dulipali Village, Nobo, Nurabelen, and Riang Rita were the villages impacted in the Ile Bura District. In the Titehena District, the Konga Village, Kobasoma, Bokang Wolomatang, and Warowara were affected.
Yosef stated that volcanic material erupted 3.7 miles above its crater, which forced thousands of residents to flee as the ashes and volcanic debris covered nearby villages and towns.
“A nun in Hokeng village died and another was missing,” said Agusta Palma, the head of the Saint Gabriel Foundation.
“Our nuns ran out in panic under a rain of volcanic ash in the darkness,” Palma said.
Updates are set to continue to roll out as the damage is further assessed. One of the biggest priorities is search and rescue for any missing residents and impacted people who had to quickly leave their homes.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
Nearly 13,000 Philippine residents in the southeast of the country’s main island have been evacuated as the Mount Mayon volcano began spewing lava and sulfuric gas on Sunday, according to authorities.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recommended that everyone within a 3.7 mile radius of the Mount Mayon volcano is in a “danger zone” and should be evacuated as they’re at risk of rockfalls, landslides, and ballistic fragments.
On Thursday, the alert level on the volcano reached a 3 out of 5, leading to 88% of residents living within the danger zone to be evacuated. Efforts to relocate the rest are continuous, according to the Philippine Provincial Information Office.
Mayon is known as one of the world’s most active volcanoes, located on Luzon island about 205 miles southeast of Manila.
Phivolcs warned that a “hazardous eruption is possible within weeks or even days after detecting a relatively high level of unrest at the volcano.”
Phivolcs has also stated that within the past 24 hours, the Mayon Volcano network recorded 21 weak volcanic earthquakes, 260 rockfalls, and lava flow activity from the crater. THe agency also detected three pyroclastic density currents, which are very hot and fast-moving flows of ash, hot gases, and debris.
According to CNN Philippines, on Friday the government was able to release response funds to support affected residents after Albay province was placed under a state of calamity.
Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said they were “closely monitoring the situation at the volcano, and we could raise the alert level to 4 if there is an increase in volcanic earthquakes and inflation of the volcano’s edifice.”
Bacolcol also said “there was an effusive eruption Sunday night with lava flows observed to reach 1,640 feet from the volcano’s summit.”
“Lava flows are slow moving and effusive eruptions are generally less violent and produce less ash and volcanic gases than explosive eruptions,” he stated.
10,000 farm animals that were located in areas threatened by the volcano were also evacuated to feeding camps and shelters outside of the danger zone. Rescue and repair efforts are continuous and ongoing as authorities continue to monitor the Volcanoes activity.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
For the first time in months, the Cumbre Vieja volcano has stopped spewing lava – although scientists are still concerned that the silence doesn’t mean the eruption is over.
Cumbre Vieja, located in Spain’s La Palma Island — part of the Canary Islands — started erupting back on Sept. 19, sending the lives of thousands spiraling. The volcano’s awakening now holds the record for La Palma’s longest eruption, having been active for 88 days.
Experts have not detected any seismic activity since Monday night. However, according to Involcan, Canary Islands’ Volcanology Institute, it “does not imply a terminator of the eruption, as its cessation has sometimes been followed by a further increase in activity.” Involcan did note this has been the longest tremor-free interval since the eruption began.
There’s no doubt the experts have a right to be cautious – after several days of low activities, the volcano once again sprung to life on Sunday. Authorities noted the eruption also triggered more than two dozen earthquakes from Saturday into Sunday, though none of which were felt by residents.
Talking to Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, state official Mariano Hernández called the situation stable, but admitted that scientists have not given an estimate as to when the unpredictable eruption will finally come to a close. Hernández added that experts continue to monitor the number and magnitudes of the earthquakes.
On Monday, Spain ordered 30,000 people on La Palma — which has a total population of over 84,000 — to remain indoors due to the toxic gases and ash emitted from the eruption. Authorities advised the residents to close their doors, windows, and shutters in order to prevent air from coming in, as well as to turn off their air conditioning and heating.
According to CBS News, more than 7,000 have been evacuated since the volcano first erupted. Although there have been no related injuries or deaths and the majority of the Island has been unaffected, more than 3,000 buildings were destroyed throughout the process.
The streams of lava and ash have covered 1,220 hectares — or 3014 acres — of land, which much of that area being farmlands. Deltas around 50 hectares — 123 acres — have also formed on the La Palma coast as a result. Deltas are viewed as hazards, as they are unstable and prone to collapse or explosions.
Despite the dangerousness of the situation, that didn’t stop tourists from flocking to see the eruptions with their own eyes – even having a drink while they watch. That lack of care has clearly stuck with those affected, as La Palma Island resident Estefania Martin showed while speaking with NPR.
“People who visit cannot imagine the worry, the sadness, the uncertainty about where you’ll be tomorrow and what to do with your life, and that you might have even lost your job.”
The volcano has only erupted three times since 1900. The first came in 1949, and lasted for 37 days. The second eruption occured in 1971, which lasted 24 days. Both instances, as well as the current eruption, hold a VEI (volcanic explosivity index) of two. That number classifies them as being between “small” and “medium.”
Andrew Rhoades is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest based in New York. A Saint Joseph’s University graduate, Rhoades’ reporting includes sports, U.S., and entertainment. You can reach him at andrew.rhoades@thenationaldigest.com.