All times are local unless otherwise stated.

Alaid (Russia) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Alaid Kuril Volcanic Arc	The Tokyo VAAC reported that on [21] August an ash plume from Alaid identified in satellite images rose to an altitude of 2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. Source: Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Kuchinoerabujima (Japan) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Kuchinoerabujima Ryukyu Volcanic Arc	JMA reported that earthquakes at Kuchinoerabujima’s Shindake Crater typically occur at shallow levels, though on 15 August a swarm of deep volcanic earthquakes was recorded, prompting JMA to raise the Alert Level to 4 (on a scale of 1-5). The earthquake hypocenters were about 5 km deep, below the SW flanks of Shindake, and the maximum magnitude was 1.9. They occurred at about the same place as the swarm that occurred just before the May 2015 eruption. Sulfur dioxide emissions had been increasing since the beginning of August; they were 1,600, 1,000, and 1,200 tons/day on 11, 13, and 17 August, respectively. No surficial changes in gas emissions or thermal areas were observed during 16-20 August. Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Merapi (Indonesia) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Merapi Sunda Volcanic Arc	PVMBG reported that seismicity at Merapi increased on 18 July, and again on 29 July. On 11 August a large earthquake was detected, and coupled with rumbling heard by Deles residents, possibly signaled new lava-dome effusion. Drone photos on 12 August showed a new lava dome growing within the fracture of the 2010 dome. By 18 August the new dome was 55 m long and 25 m wide, and about 5 m below the 2010 dome surface. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and resident were warned to remain outside of the 3-km exclusion zone. Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Telica (Nicaragua) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Telica Central America Volcanic Arc	SINAPRED reported that on 15 August an explosion at Telica generated an ash plume that rose 200 m above the crater rim. Source: Sistema Nacional para la Prevención, Mitigación y Atención de Desastres (SINAPRED)

Agung (Indonesia) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Agung Sunda Volcanic Arc	According to the Darwin VAAC, a webcam recorded a diffuse ash emission from Agung rising to an altitude of 3.3 km (11,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifting W on 17 August. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4) and the exclusion zone was stable at a 4-km radius. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Aira (Japan) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Aira Ryukyu Volcanic Arc	JMA reported that there were four events and nine explosions at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 13-20 August, with ash plumes rising as high as 1.7 km above the crater rim and material ejected as far as 900 m. Crater incandescence was visible at night. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale). Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Ambae (Vanuatu) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Ambae Vanuatu Volcanic Arc	According to news reports all 10,000 residents of Ambae had been evacuated to Espiritu Santo (W) and Maewo (NE) islands by 14 August. Source: Radio New Zealand
Cleveland (United States) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Cleveland Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc	AVO reported that unrest at Cleveland continued during 15-20 August, though nothing significant was detected in seismic or infrasound data. Steaming from the crater was sometimes visible in clear webcam views, and elevated surface temperatures were occasionally identified in satellite images. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch. Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
Copahue (Chile-Argentina) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Copahue Andean Southern Volcanic Arc	The Buenos Aires VAAC reported that during 14-15 August diffuse steam emissions with possible ash were visible in webcam views rising to an altitude of 3.6 km (12,000 ft) a.s.l. Source: Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Dukono (Indonesia) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Dukono Halmahera Volcanic Arc	Based on satellite data, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 15-21 August ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.8-2.4 km (6,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NNW, NE, and E. Source: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)
Ebeko (Russia) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Ebeko Kuril Volcanic Arc	Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 11-17 August that sent ash plumes as high as 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. An ash plume drifted 52 km SE during 10-11 August, and a thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images on 12 August. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Fuego (Guatemala) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Fuego Central America Volcanic Arc	INSIVUMEH reported that during 18-21 August explosions at Fuego generated ash plumes that rose as high as 850 m above the crater and drifted 12 km NW, W, and SW. Incandescent material was ejected 150 m above the crater rim, and caused avalanches of material within the crater area and down drainages on the flanks. According to CONRED, as of 22 August, the number of people confirmed to have died due to the 3 June pyroclastic flows was 169, and 256 remained missing. Sources: Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED), Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Ibu (Indonesia) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Ibu Halmahera Volcanic Arc	PVMBG reported that at 1742 on 20 August an event at Ibu generated an ash plume that rose 1.2 km above the crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay at least 2 km away from the active crater, and 3.5 km away on the N side. Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Karymsky (Russia) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Karymsky Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in satellite images on 10 August; cloud cover prevented views during 11-17 August. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Kilauea (United States) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Kilauea Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group	On 17 August HVO lowered the Alert Level for Kilauea to Watch (the Aviation Color Code remained at Orange), noting reduced activity over the previous several days. Specifically, no collapse events had occurred at the summit since 2 August, lava ceased flowing in the channel from the Fissure 8 cone on 6 August, seismicity and ground deformation at the summit were negligible, and the combined rate of sulfur dioxide emission from the summit and the LERZ were lower than any time since late 2007. The small lava pond in Fissure 8 had crusted over by 17 August, with no observed incandescence. Lava continued to ooze into the ocean at a few areas, causing minimal laze plumes. During an overflight on 20 August gas jets ejected spatter from a small incandescent area deep within the Fissure 8 cone. Source: US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Sabancaya (Peru) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Sabancaya Andean Central Volcanic Arc	Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosions at Sabancaya averaged 27 per day during 13-19 August. Hybrid earthquakes were infrequent and low-magnitude. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 3.7 km above the crater rim and drifted 50 km SE, E, and NE. The MIROVA system detected nine thermal anomalies, and on 19 August the sulfur dioxide gas flux was high at 3,100 tons/day. The report noted that the public should not approach the crater within a 12-km radius. Sources: Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico (INGEMMET), Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP)
Sheveluch (Russia) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Sheveluch Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	KVERT reported that satellite images showed a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch during 12-13 August; cloudy weather prevented views of the volcano on the other days during 10-17 August. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Sierra Negra (Ecuador) | 15 August-21 August 2018 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Sierra Negra Galapagos Hotspot Volcano Group	IG reported that lava effusion at Sierra Negra continued at variable intensities. The most intense pulses, recorded on 4 and 9 August, were accompanied by major episodes of seismic tremor; activity slightly declined after 9 August. On 15 August satellite images showed lava from Fissure 4 continuing to enter the ocean. Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN)

Weekly Reports Archive

Since the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report began in November 2000, there have been 20,322 individual reports over 1,229 weeks (average of 17 per week) on 336 different volcanoes.

Use the dropdowns to choose the year and week for archived Weekly Reports.

 News Feeds and Google Placemarks

 Criteria & Disclaimers

The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report does not necessarily include all volcanic activity that occurred on Earth during the week. More than a dozen volcanoes globally have displayed more-or-less continuous eruptive activity for decades or longer, and such routine activity is typically not reported here. Moreover, Earth's sea-floor volcanism is seldom reported even though in theory it represents the single most prolific source of erupted material. The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report summarizes volcanic activity that meets one or more of the following criteria:

- A volcano observatory raises or lowers the alert level at the volcano.
- A volcanic ash advisory has been released by a volcanic ash advisory center (VAAC) stating that an ash cloud has been produced from the volcano.
- A verifiable news report of new activity or a change in activity at the volcano has been issued.
- Observers have reported a significant change in volcanic activity. Such activity can include, but is not restricted to, pyroclastic flows, lahars, lava flows, dome collapse, or increased unrest.

Volcanoes are included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section of the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report if the activity occurs after at least 3 months of quiescence. Once a volcano is included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section, updates will remain in that section unless the activity continues for more than 1 month without escalating, after which time updates will be listed in the "Continuing Activity" section. Volcanoes are also included in the "New Activity/Unrest" section if the volcano is undergoing a period of relatively high unrest, or increasing unrest. This is commonly equal to Alert Level Orange on a scale of Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, where Red is the highest alert. Or alert level 3 on a scale of 1-4 or 1-5.

It is important to note that volcanic activity meeting one or more of these criteria may occur during the week, but may not be included in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report because we did not receive a report.

1. The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is intended to provide timely information about global volcanism on a weekly basis. Consequently, the report is generated rapidly by summarizing volcanic reports from various sources, with little time for fact checking. The accuracy of the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report is dependent upon the quality of the volcanic activity reports we receive. Reports published in the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network are cover longer time periods and are more carefully reviewed, although all of the volcanoes discussed in the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report are not necessarily reported in the Bulletin. Because of our emphasis on rapid reporting on the web we have avoided diacritical marks. Reports are updated on the Weekly Volcanic Activity Report web page as they are received, therefore information may be included regarding events that occurred before the current report period.

2. Rapidly developing events lead to coverage that is often fragmentary. Volcanoes, their eruptions, and their plumes and associated atmospheric effects are complex phenomena that may require months to years of data analysis in order to create a comprehensive summary and interpretation of events.

3. Preliminary accounts sometimes contain exaggerations and "false alarms," and accordingly, this report may include some events ultimately found to be erroneous or misleading.

4. Many news agencies do not archive the articles they post on the Internet, and therefore the links to some sources may not be active. To obtain information about the cited articles that are no longer available on the Internet contact the source.

5. USGS Disclaimer Statement for this Website:

Information presented on this website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is requested. We strongly recommend that USGS data be acquired directly from a USGS server and not through other sources that may change the data in some way. While USGS makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information, various data such as names, telephone numbers, etc. may change prior to updating. USGS welcomes suggestions on how to improve our home page and correct errors. USGS provides no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of furnished data.

Some of the documents on this server may contain live references (or pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that USGS does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials.

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this website are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act. Information may also be used for authorized law enforcement investigations. (Last modified September 21, 1999.)

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA
URL: https://volcano.si.edu/reports_weekly.cfm

 Acronyms and Abbreviations

a.s.l. - above sea level

AVO - Alaska Volcano Observatory

AVHRR - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer

CENAPRED - Centro Nacionale de Prevencion de Desastres (México)

CONRED - Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres

COSPEC - Correlation Spectrometer

CVGHM (formerly VSI) - Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation

CVO - Cascades Volcano Observatory (USGS)

GMS - Geostationary Meteorological Satellite

GOES - Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

GVO - Goma Volcano Observatory

GVP - Global Volcanism Program (Smithsonian Institution)

HVO - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS)

ICE - Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (Costa Rica)

IG - Instituto Geofísico (Ecuador)

IGNS - Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (New Zealand) - now GNS Science

INETER - Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (Nicaragua)

INGEMMET - Instituto Geológical Minero y Metalúrgico (Peru)

INGEOMINAS - Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería (Colombia)

INGV-CT - Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - Sezione di Catania (Italy)

INSIVUMEH - Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hidrologia (Guatemala)

IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (France)

JMA - Japanese Meteorological Agency

KEMSD - Kamchatkan Experimental and Methodical Seismilogical Department

KVERT - Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team

M - magnitude

METEOSAT - Meteorological Satellite

MEVO - Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory

MODIS - Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MVO - Montserrat Volcano Observatory

MWO - Meteorological Watch Office

NEIC - National Earthquake Information Center

NIED - National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (Japan)

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOTAM - Notice to Airmen

OVDAS - Observatorio Volcanologico de los Andes del Sur (Chile)

OFDA - Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance

ONEMI - Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Ministerio del Interior (Chile)

OVPDLF - Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (France)

OVSICORI-UNA - Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica)

PHIVOLCS - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philippines)

RSAM - Real-time Seismic Amplitude Measurement

RVO - Rabaul Volcano Observatory

SERNAGEOMIN - Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria (Chile)

SIGMET - Significant Meteorological Information

SNET - Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (El Salvador)

SVERT - Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (Russia)

USAID - US Agency for International Development

USGS - United States Geological Survey

UTC - Coordinated Universal Time

VAAC - Volcanic Ash Advisory Center

VAFTAD - Volcanic Ash Forecast Transport And Dispersion

VDAP - Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (USGS)

VHP - Volcano Hazards Program (USGS)

VRC - Volcano Research Center (Japan)