Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador) activity update volcanodiscovery/tungurahua/news.html During the past days, a further increase in activity of the volcano occurred, characterized by the generation of large explosions and a constant ash eruption column, and several small to big explosions that generated strong vibrations and rattled windows in villages near the volcano. An eruption at 07:23 (local time) on 28 July generated a small pyroclastic flow that affected the upper north and north east flank of the volcano. Constant ash emissions produce a an ash column of up to 1.5 km height, drifting westwards. Ash fell in the town of Mocha. Seismic activity consists of long period (LP) earthquakes associated with internal fluid movements. According to IGPEN, the most likely scenario is that a new magma body is currently rising and might produce more strong explosions, causing ash fall and possibly pyroclastic flows on the flanks. It is observed that SO2 output is decreasing, which suggests that a plug is forming in the conduit, and could lead to a strong vent-clearing explosion within the near future.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 14:19:22 +0000