Merapi, Kilauea and Fuego activity.

This week between February 11 and 17, 2022, the BPPTKG reports for Merapi :

- 3 pyroclastic avalanche flows in the southwest, upstream of the Bebeng River, with a sliding distance of 2,500 – 2,800 m.

- Lava block falls were observed 105 times in the southwest, dominating the Bebeng River with a maximum sliding distance of 2,000 m.

Based on the morphological analysis, no significant morphological changes were observed in either the southwest lava dome or the central dome. The volume of the southwest lava dome is 1,670,000 m³ and the central dome is 3,00,000 m³.

The intensity of seismicity this week is still quite high. Mount Merapi's deformation, which was monitored using EDM this week, showed a distance shortening rate of 0.5 cm/day.

No lahar or additional flow has been reported in the rivers that have their source in Merapi.

Merapi's volcanic activity is still quite high in the form of effusive eruption activity.

The state of the activity is defined at the "Siaga" level

The current potential danger consists of lava avalanches and hot clouds in the south-southwest sector covering the Boyong River for a maximum of 5 km, the Bedog River, Krasak, Bebeng for a maximum of 7 km. The southeast sector covers the Woro River for a maximum of 3 km and the Gendol River for a maximum of 5 km. Meanwhile, the ejection of volcanic material in the event of an explosive eruption can reach a radius of 3 km from the summit.

Source: BPPTKG, PVMBG, Magma Indonesia

Lava effusion continues on February 17, 2022  morning at Kilauea, but the effusion rate has dropped as of 6 p.m. HST.  During this period, the level of the western lava lake has dropped by approximately 10 Mr. There has been little to no seepage along the margins of the lava lake over the past 24 hours. This decrease in effusive activity corresponds to a decrease in tilt from +0.5 to -1.0 microradians followed by a decrease in summit tremor.

The active lava lake is now about 89 meters deep compared to when the lava emerged on September 29, 2021. Measurements on January 25, 2022 indicated that the total volume of lava effused since the start of the eruption was about 45 million m³ at that time.

Summit tiltmeters indicate the onset of a deflationary event as of 6:00 p.m. HST on February 17, 2022. Seismic data shows the volcanic tremor signal began to wane within hours of the onset of the deflationary event. Seismic activity at the summit remains below the background level. A sulfur dioxide emission rate of about ~2800 tonnes per day (t/d) was measured on February 14.

Source: HVO

In Fuego (Guatemala), 4 to 9 weak explosions are generated per hour. These generate plumes of gas and ash from 4,500 to 4,800 m. asl which extend 10 to 15 km to the west and south-west.

The explosions are accompanied by avalanches of weak, moderate and strong characteristics, mainly in the direction of the Ceniza ravine, generating the rolling of materials that reach the edge of the vegetation. Low to moderate rumblings were recorded, which rattled the roofs and windows of houses around the volcano. Low sounds similar to those of a train locomotive were heard for periods of 2 to 8 minutes.

During the night and early in the morning, an incandescence of 100 to 300 meters above the crater and an active lava flow activity of 250 meters long in the direction of the ravine of Ceniza are observed.

The recommendations of special bulletin BEFGO 005-2022 are still valid.

Source: Insivumeh