Latest news with #PacificRingOfFire
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Strong 7.3-magnitude quake hits off Alaska, tsunami alert withdrawn after minor sea rise
LOS ANGELES, July 17 — A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the US state of Alaska on yesterday, triggering a tsunami warning that was later withdrawn, the US Geological Survey said. The earthquake took place at approximately 12:37 local time (2037 GMT), with its epicenter located about 54 miles (87 kilometers) south of the island town of Sand Point, USGS said. The epicenter had a relatively shallow depth of 12.5 miles. Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for South Alaska and the Alaska peninsula after the quake, but later downgraded it to a tsunami advisory, and then withdrew it entirely. 'The Tsunami Advisory is canceled for the coastal areas of South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula,' said the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) in a message issued about two hours after the earthquake. The initial quake was followed by a cluster of more than a dozen aftershocks, the largest of which was measured at 5.2-magnitude, according to USGS. The tsunami warning and advisory had only been issued for areas along the Alaskan coast, with areas further afield unaffected, the NTWC said. A tsunami with a maximum height of 0.2 feet (6.1 centimeters) was observed at Sand Point, it said. Nevertheless, the center advised residents in the affected zone to be aware of hazards. 'Do not re-occupy hazard zones until local emergency officials indicate it is safe to do so,' the NTWC said. Alaska is situated along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. The remote US state was hit by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake in March 1964, the strongest ever recorded in North America. It unleashed a tsunami that devastated the city of Anchorage and slammed the Gulf of Alaska, the US west coast, and Hawaii, killing scores and causing more than $400 million in property loss. A 7.2-magnitude quake hit off the Alaska peninsula in July 2023, with no major damage reported following the tremor. — AFP pic
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Experts on high alert as multiple volcanoes in 'Pacific Ring of Fire' suddenly come to life
Several volcanoes in the 'Pacific Ring of Fire' have shown increased activity recently, prompting close monitoring by experts for potential eruptions. Also called the Circum-Pacific Belt, it is a 25,000-mile chain of volcanoes and earthquake zones from South America to Alaska, across Japan, and down to New Zealand. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has found four volcanoes, all in the US, which are rumbling, including the Great Sitkin Volcano in Alaska that has been steadil y erupting lava into its summit crater for nearly four years. Recent satellite imagery confirms the eruption remains slow and non-explosive, with lava continuing to flow southwest. In Hawaii, Kilauea has paused its lava fountains but continues to build pressure. Scientists anticipate a new eruptive phase between July 17 and 20. Although lava fountains have ceased, sulfur dioxide emissions remain elevated, measured between 1,200 and 1,500 tons per day, indicating ongoing volcanic activity. Mount Rainier in Washington experienced its largest recorded earthquake swarm in early July, with 334 quakes detected over two days starting July 8, raising vigilance among volcanologists. Offshore Oregon, the underwater Axial Seamount is under close observation, with researchers forecasting an eruption possibly occurring in 2025. According to the scientists, these volcanoes are unpredictable as they are a result of natural movement in the Earth's crust, especially along the Pacific Ring of Fire. That is because this area is where the Pacific tectonic plate sinks under neighboring plates, creating quakes and eruptions. Even with the flurry of quakes and lava, none of these volcanoes currently threaten the nearby communities. Each of the rumbling volcanoes has its own history and behavior pattern. The Great Sitkin Volcano, located in Alaska's Aleutian Islands, began erupting in 2021 after decades of inactivity. In April, USGS volcanologist reported that lava has slowly filled the crater over the years, building a thick dome, but it has not triggered ash clouds or air travel disruptions, a key concern for aviation in the region. Lava is still pushing out of the summit crater at Great Sitkin Volcano in Alaska. It is not explosive, but steady. Small quakes continue, and there is no sign the eruption is ending anytime soon. Mount Spurr, roughly 80 miles west of Anchorage, had its last explosive eruption in 1992, sending ash clouds 40,000 feet into the sky. The recent shallow earthquake swarms echo early warning signs from that event, though experts say there is no magma movement yet. Nearby, Mount Spurr has had shallow earthquake swarms since February. As of now, it is quiet, no gas, no lava, and no expected eruption, but USGS has kept it under an advisory level. However, Kilauea, on Hawaii's Big Island, is being monitored around the clock because of its proximity to residential areas. In 2018, lava flows from the volcano destroyed over 700 homes in the Leilani Estates subdivision. Scientists are now tracking surface deformation, quake movement, and gas emissions to anticipate another potential hazard phase. Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world but is not part of the Ring of Fire. It sits above a hot spot in the Earth's mantle, a fixed plume of heat and magma that stays in place while the Pacific Plate moves slowly over it. Seismologists are now concerned that Kilauea is swelling again and showing more quakes, signs it could erupt soon. A vent on the undersea volcano Axial Seamount. Scientists expect an eruption next year, but it will likely go unnoticed by anyone except the seafloor monitoring teams The activity could mark the start of what is known as Episode 29, the latest phase in the volcano's ongoing eruption cycle that began in 1983. The volcano, containing gas, ash, and threads, poses a threat to humans due to its confined nature and potential for eruptions. Mount Rainier, despite not erupting in centuries, remains one of the most hazardous volcanoes in North America because of its massive glacial coverage. A 2023 USGS risk assessment found that even small eruptions or earthquakes could trigger deadly mudflows, known as lahars, capable of reaching communities like Orting and Puyallup within minutes. Earlier this month, the volcano experienced its largest earthquake swarm since 2009, with hundreds of small tremors rattling the area. According to USGS, each quake was under magnitude 1.7 and originated just a few miles beneath the summit, deep enough to raise concern among scientists. While the volcano's alert level remains at 'normal' and no ground deformation has been detected, this swarm adds to approximately thousands, of quakes recorded at Rainier since 2020. Although an eruption is not expected in the immediate future, experts still rank Mount Rainier among the most dangerous volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest due to its potential to unleash lahars, ash fall, and pyroclastic flows. Scientists emphasize that it is not lava that poses the greatest threat, but the lahars. These violent mudflows can form during an eruption or even without one, triggered by intense rainfall, melting snow, or weakened slopes. Off Oregon's coast, Axial Seamount continues to slowly inflate. Scientists expect an eruption next year, but it will likely go unnoticed by anyone except the seafloor monitoring teams. Volcano experts say there is no cause for panic. The activity fits into long-term patterns in the Ring of Fire and Hawaii's hot spot as the scientists are watching them closely.
Reuters
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
Magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes Indonesia's Tanimbar Islands region, geophysics agency says
July 14 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 struck off the coast of Indonesia's Tanimbar Islands region on Monday, the country's geophysics agency said, adding there was no tsunami potential. The quake was at a depth of 98 km (60.89 miles), the agency said. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported that the quake was of 6.8 magnitude and at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles). Tremors were felt in several small towns in eastern Indonesia, the agency said. There was no immediate reports of damage, said Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency. Indonesia straddles the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismically active zone, where different plates on the Earth's crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanic activity.
RNZ News
14-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes Indonesia
File photo Photo: An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 has struck off the coast of Indonesia's Tanimbar Islands region, but there are no tsunami warnings. The quake hit at a depth of 98 km, the country's geophysics agency said. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported that the quake was of 6.8 magnitude and at a depth of 10 km. Tremors were felt in several small towns in eastern Indonesia, the agency said. There was no immediate reports of damage, said Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency. Indonesia straddles the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismically active zone which includes New Zealand, where different plates on the Earth's crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanic activity. - Reuters
The Independent
07-07-2025
- The Independent
Bali flights cancelled after Indonesian volcano eruption causes massive plume
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in eastern Indonesia erupted on Monday, propelling a massive ash column 18km into the sky and blanketing surrounding villages. This eruption caused the cancellation of several international flights between Australia and Bali, and officials have warned of potential destructive volcanic mudslides. The volcano's alert status remains at its highest, following a series of eruptions since November, including one that killed nine people and injured dozens. Indonesia's volcanology agency raised the alert level in June due to surging tremors, leading to an 8km exclusion zone and the evacuation of local residents. Situated on the Pacific"Ring of Fire," Indonesia is home to 120 active volcanoes and frequently experiences seismic activity, posing significant danger to aircraft from volcanic ash.
