Archived Volcano News - John Seach
November 2012

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

Friday 30th November 2012
Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia

Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka has been raised to the highest aviation alert RED. The volcano poses a threat to aviation with plume reaching 33,000 ft altitude. The eruption has destroyed a scientific monitoring site. Satellite images show a large thermal signal indicating a fissure eruption.
More on Tolbachik Volcano...
Volcanoes of Kamchatka...

Thursday 29th November 2012
Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia

Eruptions continue at Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka. A 4-5 km fissure occurred at Tolbachinsky Dol with Strombolian eruptions at 4-5 vents. A 6-7 km fissure occurred at Plosky Tolbachik with Strombolian eruptions at 2-3 vents. Ashfall, booming noises and rattling windows were reported in nearby towns.
More on Tolbachik Volcano...
Volcanoes of Kamchatka...

Wednesday 28th November 2012
Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia

The eruption of Tolbachik volcano was accompanied by 267 shallow earthquakes. Between 05:15 and 08:00 hr shallow earthquakes indicated possible ash explosions to 33,000 ft. From 08:00 to 24:00 hr volcanic tremor indicated possible lava flow. Lava intrusion occurred towards the summit caldera of Plosky Tolbachik, which was the location of the large fissure eruptions in 1975-76.
More on Tolbachik Volcano...
Volcanoes of Kamchatka...

Wednesday 28th November 2012
Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia

An explosive eruption began at Tolbachik volcano on 27th November 2012. Ash was reported to a height of 33,000 ft drifting north and northwest of the volcano. The height of ash emission was estimated from seismic records. Ashfall was reported at villages 35 km west of the volcano to a depth of 4 cm. The last eruption of Tolbachik volcano in 1975-76 produced a 28 km long fissure, and was the largest historical basaltic eruption in Kamchatka. The aviation colour code has been raised to ORANGE alert.
More on Tolbachik Volcano...
Volcanoes of Kamchatka...

Friday 23rd November 2012
Taal Volcano, Philippines

There was a large increase in seismic activity at Taal volcano on 22-23 November 2012. In a 24 hour period 60 earthquakes were measured at the volcano. Two of the earthquakes were felt by residents of Calauit and Pira-piraso. The second felt earthquake at 7:23 pm on 22 November was felt with an intensity of III, and was accompanied by a rumbling sound. The earthquakes were located mostly under the north-eastern side of the volcano island. The Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone. Level 1 alert remains at the volcano.
More on Taal volcano...
Volcanoes of Philippines...

Friday 23rd November 2012
Heard Island Volcano, Australia

A Heritage Expeditions cruise which departed Fremantle, Australia, reached Heard Island in the south Indian Ocean on 21st November 2012. A photo posted on the expedition's twitter page (@HeritageExp) showed the volcano under clear skies. There was no visible plume from the summit. Awaiting further observations. Satellite images showed a new period of activity commenced at the volcano around 21st September 2012. This expedition is the first to reach Heard Island in the current cycle of volcanic activity.
More on Heard Island volcano...
Volcanoes of Australia...

Thursday 22nd November 2012
Fuego Volcano, Guatemala

A 1.8 km lava flow was reported at Fuego volcano, Guatemala on 21 November 2012. Incandescent avalanches produced ash which drifted 10 km south and southwest. 100 m high lava explosions were observed at the summit.
More on Fuego volcano...
Volcanoes of Guatemala...

Wednesday 21st November 2012
Tongariro Volcano, New Zealand

An eruption occurred at Te Maari Craters, Tongariro volcano, New Zealand, at 1:25 pm on 21st November 2012. Volcanic ash was observed to an altitude of 21,000 ft. The eruption was preceded by increasing seismicity during the previous 4 hours. About 50 hikers were on the Tongariro Crossing at the time of the eruption. No injuries were reported. The Tongariro crossing is now closed. Ash fell on State Highway 46 and north-east towards Turangi. The eruption was seen from Taupo. An eruption of Tongariro volcano in August 2012 destroyed a National Park hut.
More on Tongariro Volcano...
Volcanoes of New Zealand...

Monday 19th November 2012
Ruapehu Volcano, New Zealand

The summit of Ruapehu volcano, New Zealand is off limits due to raised alert level. Climbers are advised to stay more than 2 km away from the crater, and not above Whakapapa ski area. Ruapehu has a history of explosive eruptions and lahars.
More on Ruapehu Volcano...
Volcanoes of New Zealand...

Friday 16th November 2012
Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia

An eruption was reported at Nevado del Ruiz volcano on 15th November 2012. The eruption was not directly seen due to clouds in the area. The eruption was detected by elevated seismic activity during the afternoon. The Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issued an alert. Winds were expected to change to the southeast during the day. Nevado del Ruiz volcano is located in central Colombia, 130 km WNW of Bogata. In 1985 an eruption of the volcano created history's fourth largest volcanic disaster, killing 25,000 people.
More on Nevado del Ruiz Volcano...
Volcanoes of Colombia...

Friday 16th November 2012
Ruapehu Volcano, New Zealand

Ruapehu volcano was increased to yellow alert on 16th November 2012 due to unrest under the crater lake. Ruapehu volcano is the highest mountain on the north island of New Zealand, and contains the largest ski fields in the country. The last eruption of Ruapehu volcano occurred in 2007 with ash emissions and lahars.
More on Ruapehu Volcano...
Volcanoes of New Zealand...

Tuesday 13th November 2012
Tinakula Volcano, Solomon Islands

Satellite images showed hotspots at Tinakula volcano, Solomon Islands, on 23 October 2012 indicating ongoing eruptions. Activity has been detected at the volcano throughout 2012. Tinakula is a very active, but rarely visited volcano.
More on Tinakula volcano...
Volcanoes of Solomon Islands...

Monday 12th November 2012
Popocatepetl Volcano, Mexico

On 11th November 2012 a sulphur dioxide plume from Popocatepetl volocano, Mexico extended 600 km NE towards the border with Texas, USA.
More on Popocatepetl volcano...
Volcanoes of Mexico...

Sunday 11th November 2012
Singu Volcano, Burma

A magnitude 6.6 Earthquake hit 36 km north of Singu volcano, Burma on 11th November 2012. Two magnitude 5.0 aftershocks occurred 8 and 13 km from the volcano two hours later. The last eruption at Singu volcano is unknown but probably occurred in the past 10,000 years, which makes it an active volcano on a geological timescale.
More on Singu volcano...
Volcanoes of Burma...

Thursday 8th November 2012
Raung Volcano, Indonesia

A large eruption occurred at Raung volcano, Indonesia on 8th November 2012. Pilots report ash emissions reached a height of 30,000 ft, but volcanologists report Strombolian eruptions 200 m above the crater. The volcano is on level 3 alert.
More on Raung volcano...
Volcanoes of Indonesia...

Thursday 8th November 2012
Guatemala Earthquake (Mag 7.4)

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit Guatemala, 84 km SSW of Santa Maria volcano on 7th November 2012. Initial reports indicate a tsunami was generated. Earthquakes of this magnitude can disrupt nearby volcanoes. Volcanoes in the area include Toliman, Fuego, Agua, and Pacaya. Santa Maria and Fuego are currently erupting.
Volcanoes of Guatemala...

Friday 2nd November 2012
Another Iceland Earthquake Swarm

An earthquake swarm was detected in NE Icleand along the Tjornes Fracture Zone on 1st November 2012. The swarm was located about 100 km east of the earthquake swarm which began on 21 October. This new swarm contained about 30 earthquakes with a maximum magnitude of 3. Tjörnes Fracture Zone contains a submarine volcano located 10 km off the north coast of Iceland. It is a transform fissure zone of the mid atlantic ridge. The last eruptions were in 1867-68.
More on Tjornes Fracture Zone...
Volcanoes of Iceland...

Quick Links