Pyroclastic Flows At Santiaguito Volcano In Guatemala

Pyroclastic flow from Santiaguito last Wednesday (INSIVUMEH)

Activity has picked up during the past days: a series of partial collapses from the Caliente lava dome has been generating small to moderately large (up to 4-5 km long) pyroclastic flows, the volcano observatory reported in its latest special bulletin.

Current seismic signal showing noise from rockfalls and avalanches (STG1 station, INSIVUMEH)

Courtesy of volcanodiscovery.com

http://tinyurl.com/o4me8hg

Seismic activity prompts alert at Alaska Peninsula volcano

An Alaska Peninsula volcano that has long been a hotbed of seismic activity prompted a new alert from volcanologists Thursday, though no signs of an eruption have been seen so far.

 

According to a statement from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Volcano Observatory, the alert level at Mount Veniaminof — a volcanic peak about 480 miles southwest of Anchorage and 22 miles north of Perryville — has been raised to “advisory,” and the aviation color code has gone from green to yellow.

 

According to a USGS guide on volcano alert levels, Veniaminof’s current aviation color code and alert level both indicate that it is “exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level.”

 

“Over the past day, seismicity at Veniaminof has increased and is ongoing in the form of volcanic tremor,” staff at the observatory wrote. “No eruptive activity is observed in web camera or satellite views from today.”

 

Veniaminof has seen numerous eruptions over the last century, including one that produced a 20,000-foot ash plume and ash falls over a 25-mile radius in 1939. Since the turn of the century, it has had at least six eruptions, including one in 2013 that generated lava and ash plumes.

 

John Power, the observatory’s scientist in charge, said the recent activity seems to be “something new,” with no significant activity preceding it in recent weeks. 

 

“This seems to be what we have seen at Veniaminof numerous times in the past,” Power said. “It’s a very frequently active system, and this seems to be in keeping with prior eruptions.”

 

While scientists don’t have any predictions on whether the latest seismic event at Veniaminof will lead to a new eruption, Power said the volcano will remain under observation.

 

“We are watching the situation very closely,” Power said.

Courtesy of adn.com

http://tinyurl.com/nqho7w8

Supermoon tides flood South Florida residential areas for 3rd day

South Florida residents continue to brave tidal flooding from Sunday’s supermoon.

 

Locals in Miami Beach caught a small break, Thursday morning, before the tide rises again, causing water to flood ankle-deep.  

 

Tourists have been caught of guard dealing with the standing water. “I’m not used to it,” said one tourist from Israel.

 

Residents as far as North Fort Lauderdale continue to feel the effects as well. “You’re going to need a kayak or canoe,” said a resident. This seasonal high tide usually occurs at the end of October and at the end of November, but residents say they have never seen the water quite this high.

 

Pumps will continue to work overtime to relieve the flooding, which is expected to last until Friday. Officials have made sure that drains in these areas are clear of debris and are hopeful that the water levels will go down very soon.

 

The next high tide is expected at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Courtesy of wsvn.com

http://tinyurl.com/nmeslo5

Tornado confirmed in central Pennsylvania, USA

Forecasters have confirmed that a tornado touched down in central Pennsylvania.

 

The National Weather Service office in State College says the EF-1 tornado touched down near Lancaster at about 12:35 a.m. Wednesday.

 

Such a tornado carries peak winds of 90 to 100 mph.

 

Investigators are still trying to determine the length of its path.

 

The twister blew down trees and ripped off parts of roofs and siding of buildings, but no injuries were reported.

Courtesy of philly.com

http://tinyurl.com/p5bzkm4

MAGNITUDE 2.7 NORTHERN TEXAS, USA

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=462586

Subject To Change

Depth: 5 km

Distances: 13 km W of Dallas, United States / pop: 1,197,816 / local time: 16:28:26.4 2015-10-01
1 km SE of Irving, United States / pop: 216,290 / local time: 16:28:26.4 2015-10-01

 

Explosion injures at least 10 at a copper smelting factory in Chelyabinsk, Russia

Several people were injured in an explosion at a factory in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Oblast region on Thursday.

 

The blast occurred at a copper smelting factory in Chelyabinsk, Russian news agency TASS reported.

 

At least 10 people were injured in the blast, and at least four people are said to be in a critical condition. 

 

The explosion was reported from one of the workshops at the copper smelting plant, which is said to be the oldest factory in the region producing blister copper. 

 

On Wednesday, another blast was reported at a gunpowder factory in Russia’s Tambov Region, in which four people were injured, local media reported.

Courtesy of ibtimes.co.in

http://tinyurl.com/o2cmg3q

Super typhoon causes heavy damage in China

Super typhoon Dujuan has caused heavy losses in China’s coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian, the media reported on Thursday.

 

Dujuan, the 21st typhoon of the year, made landfall in Fujian on Tuesday morning. It killed two people and injured 324 in Taiwan previously, Xinhua news agency reported.

 

In Fujian, Dujuan affected over a million people, with 430,200 evacuated, the provincial flood control headquarters said. No casualties have been reported so far, although its direct economic losses have been estimated at 2.4 billion yuan ($377.5 million).

 

Four-hundred houses were destroyed and about 31,000 hectares of crops were damaged across seven cities and 51 counties in the province.

 

As of Thursday, heavy rains have stopped and the flood control headquarters removed its emergency response for the typhoon.

 

In Zhejiang, Dujuan affected 663,400 people and caused direct economic losses of 1.75 billion yuan. No casualties were reported.

 

Zhejiang’s Ningbo city was severely hit by the typhoon, with 359,600 people affected and 123 villages and townships inundated.

Courtesy of business-standard.com

http://tinyurl.com/oakxwsn

MAGNITUDE 4.9 SOUTHERN PERU

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=462578

Subject To Change

Depth: 10 km

Distances: 432 km W of La Paz, Bolivia / pop: 812,799 / local time: 15:42:44.2 2015-10-01
101 km NW of Arequipa, Peru / pop: 841,130 / local time: 14:42:44.2 2015-10-01
40 km N of Lluta, Peru / pop: 5,998 / local time: 14:42:44.2 2015-10-01

 

MAGNITUDE 4.5 MARTINIQUE REGION, WINDWARD ISL.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10003jk7#general_summary

Subject To Change

Depth: 63 km

Distances: 60km (37mi) ENE of Petite Riviere Salee, Martinique
61km (38mi) ENE of Sainte-Marie, Martinique
61km (38mi) NE of La Trinite, Martinique
63km (39mi) NE of Le Robert, Martinique
78km (48mi) NE of Fort-de-France, Martinique

 

MAGNITUDE 3.6 NORTHERN ALGERIA, AFRICA

http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=462504

Subject To Change

Depth: 1 km

Distances: 82 km W of Algiers, Algeria / pop: 1,977,663 / local time: 09:36:27.0 2015-10-01
66 km NW of Médéa, Algeria / pop: 147,707 / local time: 09:36:27.0 2015-10-01
26 km W of Hadjout, Algeria / pop: 27,549 / local time: 09:36:27.0 2015-10-01