Spectacular eruptions of Agung (Indonesia) and Sarychev (Russia) volcanoes – Increased seismic activity of Kusatsu Shirane, and Hakoneyama volcanoes (Japan)

Everyday, volcanoes erupt along the Ring of Fire. Here the latest volcanic explosions reported around the world.

Agung volcano, Indonesia

Bali’s Mount Agung in Karangasem District erupted again on Saturday, May 18, at 2:09 a.m. local time, spewing ash 2,000 meters into the air.

The volcanic ash column was thick and gray. The eruption had a maximum amplitude of 25 mm and lasted for two minutes and 57 seconds.

The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) has also called on people living around Mount Agung as well as climbers, visitors, and tourists to not conduct any activities in the demarcated danger zone, specifically in all areas within a four-kilometer radius from the volcano’s peak.

People living and conducting activities along the river banks around the Bali volcano have been urged to be very careful about lahars, which can turn deadly.

And here a video of Jacqueline Zwahlen captured in Tulamben, Karangasem, Bali:

Seismic unrest at Kusatsu Shirane / Honshu – Japan

Officials have closed a 2.5km road section on the Kusatsu Shirane volcano after notifying the number of volcanic earthquakes have increased significantly since May 15th (15.05: 7 volcanic quakes; 16.05: 5 volcanic quakes; 17.05: 10 volcanic quakes; 18.05: 14 volcanic quakes)

Hakoneyama volcanic unrest, Japan

The JMA has increased the alert level of the Hakoneyama volcano to 2 on May 19, 2019, after an increase of volcanic tremors under the volcano and near the Ashinoko Lake.

Fumerols are being observed in the “Great boiling valley”.

Sarychev volcano eruption, Russia

Small to large ash eruptions were reported at Sarychev in the Kouril Islands, Russia on May 18, 2019. VAAC Tokyo has reported ash up to 2,500 meters above the crater.

These explosions are first signs of increasing activity after a long eruption from September 8, 2018 to October 15, 2018 and a very strong VEI4 eruption with pyroclastic flows from June 11, 2009 to July 16, 2009 (video below).