Archived Volcano News - John Seach
October 2012

Reports are posted in Eastern Australian Time (UT +10 hr).
Archived Volcano News

Tuesday 30th October 2012
Iceland Earthquake Swarm

An earthquake swarm continues off the north coast of Iceland. Over the past 48 hours there have been 209 earthquakes recorded. The closest volcano to the swarm is Kolbeinsey Ridge. In 1999 an eruption of Kolbeinsey Ridge was identified on seismographs by an earthquake swarm 180 km N of Grimsey. Another nearby volcano is located on Tjörnes Fracture Zone, which extends obliquely off the north coast of Iceland towards the island of Grimsey.
More on Kolbeinsey volcano...
Volcanoes of Iceland...

Monday 29th October 2012
Michael Volcano, South Sandwich Islands

Satellite images showed hotspots at Michael volcano, South Sandwich Islands on 2nd and 28th October 2012. The volcano is noted for the lava lake which appeared in the crater between 1995 and 1998. The last recorded eruption at the volcano was in 2008.
More on Michael volcano...
Volcanoes of South Sandwich Islands...

Sunday 28th October 2012
Canada Earthquake

A shallow magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit off the west coast of Canada on 27th October 2012 at 10:04 pm local time. The focus was at a depth of 17 km, and epicentre was located 50 km south of Sandspit, Canada, a town of population of 500. Volcanoes located within 300 km of the epicentre include Milbanke Sound Group, Crow Lagoon, Tlevak Strait-Suemez Is, and Tseax River Cone. A tsunami warning was declared for British Colombia, (Canada), Alaska, and Hawaii.
Volcanoes of Canada...

Wednesday 24th October 2012
Vanuatu Earthquake

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit between two remote oceanic volcanoes in southern Vanuatu of 23rd October 2012. The epicentre was located 34 kilometres east of Matthew Island volcano, and 40 kilometres northwest of Hunter Island volcano. The earthquake focus was at a depth of 127 kilometres. The two volcanoes are located halfway between an intraoceanic collision zone (Loyalty Islands Ridge/ New Hebrides arc) and an active expanding ridge (North Fiji Basin Ridge) in a zone of high seismicity.
Volcanoes of Vanuatu...

Monday 22nd October 2012
Iceland Earthquake Swarm

An earthquake swarm occurred in northern Iceland on 21st October 2012. The nearest volcanoes to the swarm are Kolbeinsey Ridge, Tjörnes Fracture Zone, Theistareykjarbunga, and Krafla. In the last 24 hours there were 378 earthquakes, with 48 greater than magnitude 3.
Volcanoes of Iceland...

Monday 22nd October 2012
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

Lava lake at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has risen to within 38 m of the summit crater floor. Halemaumau crater is the central depression of Kilauea caldera. From 1905 until 1924 the crater contained an active lava lake up to 500m across. The lava lake briefly returned in 1952 and 1967-68.
More on Kilauea volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...

Monday 22nd October 2012
Ruang Volcano, Indonesia

Ruang volcano, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia was raised to level 2 alert on 18th October 2012 after an increase in volcanic tremor. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred on the previous day, 230 km NNW of the volcano.
More on Ruang volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Monday 15th October 2012
Heard Island Volcano, Australia

Activity continues at Heard Island volcano, Australian territory. Satellite images showed hotspots at the volcano on 10th October 2012. Renewed activity began at Heard Island in September 2012. Heard Island is Australia's only currently erupting volcano.
More on Heard Island volcano...
Volcanoes of Australia...

Monday 8th October 2012
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

Two lava lakes are present at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii. The east pit lava lake in Pu'u O'o crater occasionally flows across the floor of the south pit. The summit lava lake in Halemaumau crater occasionally overflows the inner ledge. The surface of the lava lake varies from 60m to 150 m deep inside the pit. On the east rift zone an active lava flow is located at the base of the pali in the abandoned Royal Gardens subdivision. The lava contines to advance towards the ocean. Sulphur dioxide emission was high at 1200 tonnes per day on 28th September 2012.
More on Kilauea volcano...
Volcanoes of Hawaii...

Monday 8th October 2012
Lokon Volcano, Indonesia

Eruptions continue at Lokon volcano, Indonesia. On 7th October 2012 an eruption occurred at 2:05 pm (local time). Loud explosions were heard at the volcano observatory, 6 km from the crater. On 5th October 2012 eruptions sent ash to a height of 1.5 km above the crater. A 2.5 km exclusion zone has been placed around Tompaluan crater. Ashfall was reported at Pineleng and Tombulu subdistricts in Minahasa district.
More on Lokon volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Monday 8th October 2012
Bromo Volcano, Indonesia

The alert level at Bromo volcano, Indonesia has been raised to level 2 (Waspada) on 3rd October 2012, after an increase in amplitude of volcanic tremor. A 1 km exclusion zone has been placed around the crater. Visual observations reported thin white emissions rising 50 m above the crater. The most recent eruption of Bromo volcano in 2010-11 ejected incandescent lava around the crater.
More on Bromo volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Friday 5th October 2012
Manam Volcano, Papua New Guinea

Eruptive activity continues at Manam volcano, Papua New Guinea. Satellite images show hotspots over the summit. The activity has been continuing throughout 2012. Ten-thousand residents of the island who were evacuated during the 2004 eruptions are still living in care centres at Poitsdam, Mangem, and Asarumba on the mainland.
More on Manam volcano...
Volcanoes of Papua New Guinea...

Friday 5th October 2012
Galeras Volcano, Colombia

On 28th September 2012 an earthquake swarm was recorded at Galeras volcano, Colombia. The earthquakes are possible associated with fluid movement in volcanic conduits, causing fracturing of rock. The earthquakes were located at a depth of less than 8 km at a radius of up to 13 km from the crater. Earthquake magnitudes were less than 1.4 on the richter scale. Ash emissions are occurring on most days. On 28th September, observatory staff on the edge of Galeras reported smell of sulphur.
More on Galeras volcano...
Volcanoes of Colombia...

Friday 5th October 2012
Cumbal Volcano, Colombia

On 26-27 September 2012 an earthquake swarm occurred at Cumbal volcano, Colombia. Over the two days 182 small earthquakes were recorded. The seismicity is possibly related to hydrothermal activity at the volcano. Weak fumarolic activity is reported at El Verde in the northern sector of the volcano.
More on Cumbal volcano...
Volcanoes of Colombia...

Friday 5th October 2012
Popocatepetl Volcano, Mexico

On 2nd October 2012 an explosion at Popocatepetl volcano sent ash to a height of 1 km above the crater. On 3rd October two explosions occurred with ash to 1 km altitude. A night glow was observed at the crater. A 12 kilometre permanent exclusion zone is placed around the crater. The road between Santiago Xalitzintla (Puebla) and San Pedro Nexapa (Mexico State), including Paso de Cortes, is open only to controlled traffic.
More on Popocatepetl volcano...
Volcanoes of Mexico...

Friday 5th October 2012
Fuego Volcano, Guatemala

Eruptions continue at Fuego volcano, Guatemala. On 4th October 2012 incandescent emissions occurred at the crater to a height of 200 m, and avalanches extended 600 m down the flanks. Rumbling sounds were heard 15 km from the volcano. Ashfall was reported in Sangre de Cristo area.
More on Fuego volcano...
Volcanoes of Guatemala...