Earth events - 13 June
From
the Extinction Protocol
Japan’s
Sakurajima volcano awakes with a series of powerful explosions
June
13, 2013 – JAPAN – After
10 days of almost no activity, the volcano has woken up violently
with 3 powerful explosions last night (at 22:05 and 23:58 UTC, ash
plumes to 10-13,000 ft) and this morning at 04:26. The eruption this
morning appears to be one of the largest explosions for a long time,
producing an ash plume rising to 16-20,000 ft (5-6 km) altitude. An
SO2 plume is also visible on satellite data. Tokyo VAAC issued a
warning of an ash plume drifting SE at flight level 200 (20,000 ft
altitude), s. graphic.
Philippines’
Taal volcano growing more restless: shaken by 9 volcanic quakes
June
13, 2013 – PHILIPPINES –
Restive
Taal Volcano in Batangas province showed heightened activity after at
least nine volcanic quakes were recorded around it in the past 24
hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (Phivolcs).
Paulo Reniva, science research assistant of
the Phivolcs’ Volcano Monitoring Division, said these quakes were
monitored from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. yesterday. Phivolcs recorded
seven volcanic quakes in a previous 24-hour observation period.
Despite the increased activity, Reniva said “there is nothing to
worry about” since tremors below 10 are still within the “normal
parameters” of a volcano under Alert Level 1. Alert Level 1, which
means that hazardous eruption is not imminent, remains in effect over
Taal.
However, Reniva reminded the public to stay away from the main
crater due to sudden occurrence of steam explosions and accumulation
of toxic gases. Taal has about 40 craters, above water and under
water, which have so far been discovered. He said the entire volcano
island is off limits since it is a permanent danger zone. In Albay,
Mayon Volcano was relatively “quiet” in the past 24 hours. Reniva
said although moderate emission of white steam plumes was observed,
no volcanic earthquake was recorded in the area. He said no rockfall
was detected and that sulfur dioxide levels remained low. He added
that no crater glow was observed Tuesday night due to thick clouds
that covered the volcano’s summit.
However, Reniva reiterated that
the public should refrain from entering the six-kilometer radius
permanent danger zone because small steam and ash explosions and rock
falls may occur anytime. Meanwhile, two minor tectonic earthquakes
were recorded in Northern Samar yesterday. The first quake with a
magnitude of 2.9 occurred at 11:56 a.m. Its epicenter was traced 14
kilometers northwest of Laoang town, Northern Samar, which felt the
quake at Intensity 3.
The town of Pambujan also in Northern Samar
felt the quake at Intensity 3. The second quake, measuring 3.2 in
magnitude, occurred 10 minutes later. Its epicenter was some 20 km
northeast of Laoang. It was felt at Intensity 3 in Laoang and
Pambujan towns, and Intensity 2 in Catarman and San Roque. The two
quakes are unlikely connected to a magnitude 5.3 quake that hit the
province in September last year, said Erlinton Olaverde, science
research specialist of the Phivolcs Seismology Division. “Masyado
ng matagal nung nangyari iyong 5.3 earthquake…However, to verify if
these two quakes are only aftershocks of the 5.3 tremor, we still
need to conduct further study,” he also said.
Olaverde also said
376 aftershocks have been recorded in North Cotabato since a
5.7-magnitude earthquake hit the province last June 1. As of 1 p.m.
yesterday, 17 of the aftershocks were “significant,” he said.
Aftershocks will continue to occur in North Cotabato and nearby areas
for more than a month, he also said.
6.7-
magnitude quake strikes off Indonesia’s Java
June
13, 2013 – INDONESIA -
An
earthquake measuring 6.7 on
the Richter scale has struck off Indonesia’s most densely-populated
island of Java, but there have been no immediate reports of
casualties or damage.
According to the US Geological Survey, the
quake took place at 11:47 pm (1647 GMT) on Thursday and was centered
some 170 kilometers (106 miles) east of Flying Fish Cove, on
Australia’s Christmas Island.
The US Geological Survey also said
that the quake was 11 kilometers (7 miles) deep. The tremor has
reportedly forced panicked residents and hotel guests to flee into
the streets in Kawalu, West Java province.
Following the tremor, the
Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a
statement saying that “There are no immediate reports of damage or
casualties, but we know the quake was felt in several parts of
Java…There is no potential for a tsunami.”
On April 20, a 6.4
-magnitude earthquake jolted Indonesia’s Maluku, but caused no
casualties or material damage.
On April 6, an earthquake measuring
7.2 on the Richter scale struck eastern Indonesia’s mountainous
West Papua province. Indonesia is vulnerable to earthquakes since it
is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its
seismic and volcanic activity caused by friction between shifting
tectonic plates.
Last year, a 6.4-magnitude quake rocked the west
coast of Sumatra Island, killing at least one person.
An
8.7-magnitude earthquake also hit off the city of Banda Aceh in
Sumatra Island in May 2012, triggering regional tsunami alerts.
A
strong quake off the shores of Indonesia triggered a tsunami that
killed 230,000 people in 13 countries around the Indian Ocean in
2004. Most of the deaths were in the northern Indonesian province of
Aceh.
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