A major explosive eruption occurred at Indonesian Sangeang Api volcano around 08:30 UTC today. A subplinian eruption column quickly rose to an estimated 15 - 20 km (50 - 65 000 ft) altitude and drifted several hundred km to the east and southeast. Aviation color code is on red.
Ash fall was reported in areas up to 30 km downwind from the volcano, VolcanoDiscovery reports.
Luckily, the island itself is largely uninhabited although visted by farmers who cultivate some land.
Evacuations were ordered within 1.5 km radius from the volcano.
This volcano
last appeared in GVP's weekly volcanic report during the week of June 12 - 18,
2013:
CVGHM reported that
during May through June 13 diffuse white plumes rose 10 m above Sangeang Api's
crater. Both the lava dome and surrounding areas showed no changes since
November 2012. The Alert Level had been increased to 3 (on a scale of 1-4) on
May 19 due to a trend of increasing seismicity; as many as 77 shallow
earthquakes and 66 deep earthquakes had been detected daily. Residents and
tourists were advised to stay away from the craters within a radius of 5 km.
Since then seismicity decreased; 15 shallow earthquakes and three deep
earthquakes were recorded on June 13. The Alert Level was lowered to 2
on June 14. The public were advised not to approach the craters within a
radius of 1.5 km.
Geologic summary
Sangeang Api volcano,
one of the most active in the Lesser Sunda Islands, forms a small 13-km-wide
island off the NE coast of Sumbawa Island. Two large
trachybasaltic-to-tranchyandesitic volcanic cones, 1949-m-high Doro Api and
1795-m-high Doro Mantoi, were constructed in the center and on the eastern rim,
respectively, of an older, largely obscured caldera. Flank vents occur on the
south side of Doro Mantoi and near the northern coast. Intermittent historical
eruptions have been recorded since 1512, most of them during in the 20th
century. (GVP)
Featured image:
Eruption of Sangeang Api, Indonesia, on May 30, 2014.
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