Volcanic Eruption: Fuego Volcano, Guatemala – Updates

Natural Hazard – Volcanic Eruption

Central-America  – Guatemala | Sierra Madre,  Fuego Volcano  
Location: N 14° 28.380, W 90° 52.800
Damage Level: unknown
Casualties: 0
Evacuees:  0

Fuego Volcano, Guatemala : N 14° 28.380, W 90° 52.800

Volcano Eruption in Guatemala on Wednesday, 23 April, 2014 at 03:18 (03:18 AM) UTC.

Fuego volcano intensified its explosions to moderate and strong, which generated alarm in the Guatemalan population located 35km from the volcanic perimeter, an official source announced today. Today the activity maintains the expulsion of columns of gray ashes 4.500m above the sea level, moving to 12 km towards West, Southwest, and Northwest of the volcano, located 50km southwest of this capital city, said the Guatemalan National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH). The maximum scientific institution in the country stated that all the blasts are accompanied by moderate and intense rumbling, causing shock waves, sensitive at more than 15 km, which make roofs and windows of houses vibrate even when they are in villages about 35km from the volcanic perimeter. The INSIVUMEH considers if the activity persists, it may generate lava flows and pyroclastic running down the ravines around Fuego, located between the departments of Escuintla, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango. The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) is carrying out the monitoring actions in nearby communities through the Prevention of Volcanoes Unit, for the reduction of disasters. The CONRED remains on the institutional green alert and called on the population that lives next to the fire to remain calm, and be aware of the information from the authorities before an eventual evacuation. The eruption of Fuego in September 2012 forced authorities to evacuate 10.000 people in surrounding areas.

Source: RSOE EDIS

Current Helicorder Display: Source: Departamento de Investigación y Servicios geofísicos – INSIVUMEH

04/23/2014 Helicorder Display: Source: Departamento de Investigación y Servicios geofísicos – INSIVUMEH

Activity Update: Monday, 22 April, 2014 at 09:35 (09:35 AM) UTC.

Activity at the volcano continues to be elevated and increased yesterday, prompting INSIVUMEH to issue a special bulletin yesterday, in which the agency warns that a possible new paroxysm could occur in the near future.

The volcano observatory reported moderate to strong explosions with plumes up to 1 km height and drifting 12 km, causing ash falls ash on the villages Panimaché, Morelia, Santa Sofia and others. This activity was also accompanied by increased tremor. As of today, it has decreased again, but remains high, and the occurrence of another paroxysm is still a potential scenario.

In this case, strong explosions and associated ash plum rising significantly more than 1-2 km above the summit, lava flows and potentially pyroclastic flows on the southern slopes could be expected. Over the course of the day they have intensified with moderate and loud explosions, spewing columns of ash 4,500 meters moderate. Moving at 12 kilometers west and southwest, depositing fine particles of

These explosions generate moderate to strong rumblings audible more than 20 miles away in nearby villages are felt shock waves that vibrate roofs and windows of houses.

This type of activity that generates moderate sounds, cause alarm among the inhabitants of this area.

Due to this activity the probability of lava flows, and pyroclastic flow generation flow is maintained, by the ravines around the volcano.

Sources: Volcano Discovery, Global Volcanism Program

16 April-22 April 2014

INSIVUMEH noted in special reports that during 20-22 April explosions from Fuego generated ash plumes that rose 750 m above the crater and drifted 10-12 km NW, W, SW, and S. Ashfall was reported in villages downwind, including Panimaché (8 km SW), Morelia (9 km SW), and Santa Sofía (12 km SW). Explosions were audible up to 30 km away, and shock waves detected more than 15 km away vibrated houses in Panimaché, Morelia, Santa Sofía, and other areas. Avalanches of blocks reached vegetated areas.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)

Related: Volcanic Eruption: Fuego Volcano, Guatemala

 Información Más: Folleto del Volcan de Fuego (pdf)

En Guatemala existen aproximadamente 288 volcanes o estructuras idenficadas como de origen volcánico, de éstos solamente 8 tienen reportes de actividad en tiempos históricos, y 4 son los más activos actualmente. Por su estructura todos son del tipo estratovolcán, con excepción del Santiaguito que es una secuencia de cuatro domos de lava dacítica.

PRINCIPALES ERUPCIONES EN EL SIGLO XX
FUEGO. Es unos de los volcanes más activos de Guatemala, con más de 60 erupciones desde 1524. Las erupciones —tipo vulcaniano— más violentas de este siglo ocurrieron en 1932, 1971, 1974 y, la más reciente, el 21 de mayo de 1999. Elevaron columnas de ceniza de 5 a 10 Km. de altura, dejando depósitos de 40 cm. de espesor en las proximidades y de 2 cm. a varios cientos de kilómetros de distancia.