All times are local unless otherwise stated.

Karymsky (Russia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Karymsky Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	KVERT reported that over the past few weeks a minor amount of ash was present in Karymsky’s gas-and-steam plumes and trace ash deposits were visible on the surrounding snow. A very weak thermal anomaly was identified in satellite data on 6 April. The Tokyo VAAC reported that on 18 April an ash plume rose to 1.5 km (5,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE based on satellite data and information from UHPP (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport). The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale) on 19 April. Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Krakatau (Indonesia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Krakatau Sunda Volcanic Arc	PVMBG reported that during 13-19 April dense gray eruption plumes from Anak Krakatau rose as high as 50 m above the crater rim, and white plumes rose 25-100 m above the summit. Satellite data acquired on 15 April revealed new lava flows from the 10-11 April eruption covering the vent and extending the coastline W. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km-radius hazard zone from the crater. Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM), Simon Carn
Lokon-Empung (Indonesia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Lokon-Empung Sangihe Volcanic Arc	An increased number of volcanic earthquakes over a few days prompted PVMBG to issue a VONA on 15 April and raise the Aviation Color Code for Lokon-Empung to Yellow (the second lowest on a four-color scale). The volcano Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4). Residents and tourists were reminded not to approach the crater within a radius of 1.5 km. Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Semeru (Indonesia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | New Activity / Unrest Cite this Report
Semeru Sunda Volcanic Arc	PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 1-16 April. Eruptive events produced gray ash plumes that rose 400-600 m above the summit. Additionally, gray-to-white gas plumes from Jonggring-Seloko Crater rose 200-400 m; incandescent material was ejected 10-20 m above the crater. Incandescent lava flows traveled 500-1,000 m down the Kembar, Bang, and Kobokan drainages (on the S flank). At 0608 on 17 April a pyroclastic flow descended 2 km along the Bang drainage. Ash plumes drifted N, SE, and SW during 15-16 and 20-21 April. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded to stay outside of the general 1-km radius from the summit and 4 km on the SSE flank. Sources: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM), Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC)

Aira (Japan) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Aira Ryukyu Volcanic Arc	JMA reported that during 13-20 April incandescence from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was visible nightly. The seismic network occasionally recorded very small eruptive events and three explosions. Ash plumes rose as high as 2.5 km above the crater rim. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was high at 1,700 and 2,000 tons/day on 14 and 17 April, respectively. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale). Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Asosan (Japan) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Asosan Nankai Volcanic Arc	JMA reported that eruptive activity at Asosan was recorded during 13-20 April. Gray-white ash plumes rose 800-1,100 m above the crater rim and caused ashfall in areas downwind. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was somewhat high at 1,600 and 1,200 tons per day on 14 and 16 April, respectively. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-5). Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Bezymianny (Russia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Bezymianny Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Bezymianny was identified in satellite images during 10-17 April. Gas-and-steam emissions persisted. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale). Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Dukono (Indonesia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Dukono Halmahera Volcanic Arc	Based on satellite and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 15-21 April ash plumes from Dukono rose to 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone. Sources: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Ebeko (Russia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Ebeko Kuril Volcanic Arc	Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions on 13 April that sent ash plumes up to 2.5 km (8,200 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted SE. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Klyuchevskoy (Russia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Klyuchevskoy Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	KVERT reported that Strombolian activity at Klyuchevskoy was visible during 10-17 April along with a bright thermal anomaly identified in satellite images. Gas-and-steam plumes with some ash rose to 6 km (19,700 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 200 km S and E on those same days. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange. Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Kuchinoerabujima (Japan) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Kuchinoerabujima Ryukyu Volcanic Arc	JMA reported that during 13-20 April very small eruptive events at Kuchinoerabujima’s Shindake Crater produced grayish-white plumes that rose 600 m above the crater rim. An event at 0147 on 20 April generated a grayish-white plume that rose 800 m and drifted SE. The Alert Level remained at 3 (the middle level on a scale of 1-5). Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Merapi (Indonesia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Merapi Sunda Volcanic Arc	PVMBG reported relatively quiet conditions at Merapi during 13-19 April. White plumes of variable densities rose as high as 300 m above the crater that had formed on 10 April. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and residents were warned to stay outside of the 3-km exclusion zone. Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)
Nevados de Chillan (Chile) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Nevados de Chillan Andean Southern Volcanic Arc	ONEMI and SERNAGEOMIN reported that an explosive event at Nevados de Chillán’s Nicanor Crater recorded at 1333 on 21 April was associated with a long-period earthquake signal. The explosion produced a gas-and-ash plume that rose 2.4 km above the vent and drifted SE. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, the second lowest level on a four-color scale, and residents were reminded not to approach the crater within 3 km. ONEMI maintained an Alert Level Yellow (the middle level on a three-color scale) for the communities of Pinto, Coihueco, and San Fabián, and stated that the public should stay at least 3 km away from the crater on the SW flank and 5 km away on the ENE flank. Sources: Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN), Oficina Nacional de Emergencia-Ministerio del Interior (ONEMI)
Rincon de la Vieja (Costa Rica) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Rincon de la Vieja Central America Volcanic Arc	OVSICORI-UNA reported periodic hydrothermal explosions at Rincón de la Vieja during 15-21 April. At 0306 on 15 April a phreatic eruption was recorded by the seismic network; weather conditions prevented visual confirmation, though local residents reported lahars in the Pénjamo, Azufrada, and Azul rivers. A steam plume from a phreatic event at 0929 on 18 April rose 200 m above the crater rim. Several small events were detected during the morning of 19 April but none produced plumes that rose above the rim. At 1014 a phreatic eruption ejected water and sediment 300 m above the crater rim and onto the flank, and produced a steam-and-gas plume that rose 1.5 km above rim. A lahar followed the activity. During 20-21 April several low-energy puffs of gas-and-steam were recorded. A low-energy event at 0626 on 21 April generated a steam plume that rose 1 km above the crater rim. Source: Observatorio Vulcanologico y Sismologico de Costa Rica-Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA)
Sabancaya (Peru) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Sabancaya Andean Central Volcanic Arc	Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP) reported that a daily average of 11 explosions occurred at Sabancaya during 13-19 April. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 3.9 km above the summit and drifted NW, S, and SE. There were eight thermal anomalies identified in satellite data, originating from the lava dome in the summit crater. The Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale) and the public were warned to stay outside of a 12-km radius. Source: Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP)
Sheveluch (Russia) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Sheveluch Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc	KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 10-17 April. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). Source: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
Shishaldin (United States) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Shishaldin Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc	On 16 April AVO reported that seismicity at Shishaldin had decreased during the past two weeks, though it remained slightly above background levels. Additionally, satellite images showed no new lava nor changes in the crater area, and a decrease in surface temperatures. The Volcano Alert Level was lowered to Advisory and the Aviation Color Code was lowered to Yellow. Source: US Geological Survey Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO)
Suwanosejima (Japan) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Suwanosejima Ryukyu Volcanic Arc	JMA reported that during 10-17 April incandescence from Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater was visible nightly. Small eruptions occasionally occurred, along with an explosion on 15 April, producing gray-white plumes that rose as high as 1 km above the crater rim; plumes drifted N on 15 April. Rumbling sounds were noted in a village 4 km SSW. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale). Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)
Whakaari/White Island (New Zealand) | 15 April-21 April 2020 | Continuing ActivityCite this Report
Whakaari/White Island Taupo Volcanic Zone	On 16 April GeoNet reported that data collected from Whakaari/White Island came from instrumentation on the island only, including seismic stations, webcams, and sulfur dioxide gas emission sensors; no overflights had been conducted over the past three weeks. GeoNet concluded that there were no significant changes in sulfur dioxide flux, seismicity remained low, and the active vents area appeared unchanged since early March. High temperatures from the vent area were apparent at night. The Volcanic Alert Level remained at 2 and the Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow. Source: GeoNet

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.

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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)