An ash-and-steam plume from Santa Ana towers above Coatepeque caldera lake. The one-hour explosive eruption the morning of 1 October 2005 produced plumes that rose 10 km or more. Ash fell in towns west of the volcano and extended into Guatemala. Volcanic blocks up to a meter in diameter fell as far as 2 km south of the summit. Lahars descended valleys on the flanks of the volcano.

Photo by José Roberto Lopez, 2005 (Coatepeque Watershed Authority).

Keywords: eruption | explosive eruption | phreatic explosion | magma water interaction | lava water interaction | steam | ash plume | plume

Coatepeque Caldera

Santa Ana