During 21-27 January, INETER continued to monitor seismicity at Cerro Negro. According to a news article, observers near the volcano reported ash clouds rising above the volcano, but scientists observing Cerro Negro on 19 January saw only gas emanating from cracks and fumaroles, casting doubt on the ash-cloud observations.

Geological Summary. Nicaragua's youngest volcano, Cerro Negro, was created following an eruption that began in April 1850 about 2 km NW of the summit of Las Pilas volcano. It is the largest, southernmost, and most recent of a group of four youthful cinder cones constructed along a NNW-SSE-trending line in the central Marrabios Range. Strombolian-to-subplinian eruptions at intervals of a few years to several decades have constructed a roughly 250-m-high basaltic cone and an associated lava field constrained by topography to extend primarily NE and SW. Cone and crater morphology have varied significantly during its short eruptive history. Although it lies in a relatively unpopulated area, occasional heavy ashfalls have damaged crops and buildings.

Source: La Prensa (Nicaragua)