Latest news with #volcano
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Largest earthquake swarm ever recorded at Mount Rainier
Over 1,000 earthquakes have rocked Washington's Mount Rainier in the largest ever seismic swarm recorded at this active volcano , waiting to erupt. Experts from the US Geological Survey (USGS) revealed that this record-breaking earthquake swarm started on July 8 and has continued ever since. As of July 25, geologists have recorded at least 1,010 small earthquakes around the mountain, which is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the US. While the agency said that even more tremors will likely be added to this total, they'll be too small to cause any damage and likely won't even be felt by locals. The most powerful of these earthquakes was measured at 2.4 in magnitude, which is weaker than what can typically be felt by people and rarely causes any damage. These kinds of swarms can occur once or twice a year, but they normally only last a few days, leaving USGS researchers with a concerning mystery right now. 'Most swarms at Mount Rainier (there are 1-2 annually) last less than a week. That being said, we do not have a good estimate for how long this swarm may last, and whether it will intensify or peter out,' the agency admitted on Friday. Although USGS added that an eruption doesn't seem imminent, Mount Rainier remains one of the most active volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest's Cascade Range, and a devastating eruption remains a real possibility in the near future. Experts have warned that Mount Rainier would be an extremely major threat to the public during an eruption due to its volcanic mudflows known as lahars, ash fall, and pyroclastic flows. This huge, active stratovolcano towers over millions of people in major cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima in Washington, as well as Portland, Oregon. Even though Mount Rainier has not produced a significant eruption in more than 1,000 years, experts have kept a very close eye on it due to its potential to blow at any time, and the widespread destruction such an event would cause. When this volcano eventually blows, it won't be lava flows or choking clouds of ash that threaten surrounding cities, but the lahars. These violent, fast-moving mudflows that can tear across entire communities in a matter of minutes. The largest lahars can crush, bury, or carry away almost anything in their paths. 'Based on our observations, we think the most likely cause of the earthquakes is water moving around the crust above the magma chamber,' researchers with the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) wrote in a statement . For now, the USGS has kept their alert level at 'normal' despite the continued seismic activity around the mountain. 'The volcano is not 'due' for an eruption and we do not see any signs of a potential eruption at this time,' the researchers declared. This latest swarm easily surpassed the last large string of earthquakes at Mount Rainier, which came in 2009. That earthquake swarm only lasted three days and produced around 120 earthquakes. The swarm, which started during the morning of July 8 saw up to 41 minor earthquakes registering every hour. Since then, the seismic activity has cooled down to just a few each hour, but the tremors still haven't stopped altogether. Despite experiencing hundreds more earthquakes than what was felt in 2009, geologists have said the latest swarm continues to fall within what scientists consider 'normal background levels of activity' for Mount Rainier. While USGS has tried to calm the public regarding this massive uptick in earthquakes in Washington , Mount Rainier is not the only major volcano in the Pacific Northwest that could see an eruption in the next few years. Just 240 miles away in the Pacific Ocean, the Axial Seamount may be only days away from a massive underwater eruption.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Largest earthquake swarm ever recorded at massive US volcano
Over 1,000 earthquakes have rocked Washington's Mount Rainier in the largest ever seismic swarm recorded at this active volcano, waiting to erupt. Experts from the US Geological Survey (USGS) revealed that this record-breaking earthquake swarm started on July 8 and has continued ever since. As of July 25, geologists have recorded at least 1,010 small earthquakes around the mountain, which is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the US. While the agency said that even more tremors will likely be added to this total, they'll be too small to cause any damage and likely won't even be felt by locals. The most powerful of these earthquakes was measured at 2.4 in magnitude, which is weaker than what can typically be felt by people and rarely causes any damage. These kinds of swarms can occur once or twice a year, but they normally only last a few days, leaving USGS researchers with a concerning mystery right now. 'Most swarms at Mount Rainier (there are 1-2 annually) last less than a week. That being said, we do not have a good estimate for how long this swarm may last, and whether it will intensify or peter out,' the agency admitted on Friday. Although USGS added that an eruption doesn't seem imminent, Mount Rainier remains one of the most active volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest's Cascade Range, and a devastating eruption remains a real possibility in the near future. Researchers with the US Geological Survey have released a map showing more than 1,000 small earthquakes detected at Mount Rainier between July 8 and July 25 Experts have warned that Mount Rainier would be an extremely major threat to the public during an eruption due to its volcanic mudflows known as lahars, ash fall, and pyroclastic flows. This huge, active stratovolcano towers over millions of people in major cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Yakima in Washington, as well as Portland, Oregon. Even though Mount Rainier has not produced a significant eruption in more than 1,000 years, experts have kept a very close eye on it due to its potential to blow at any time, and the widespread destruction such an event would cause. When this volcano eventually blows, it won't be lava flows or choking clouds of ash that threaten surrounding cities, but the lahars. These violent, fast-moving mudflows that can tear across entire communities in a matter of minutes. The largest lahars can crush, bury, or carry away almost anything in their paths. 'Based on our observations, we think the most likely cause of the earthquakes is water moving around the crust above the magma chamber,' researchers with the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) wrote in a statement. For now, the USGS has kept their alert level at 'normal' despite the continued seismic activity around the mountain. 'The volcano is not 'due' for an eruption and we do not see any signs of a potential eruption at this time,' the researchers declared. This latest swarm easily surpassed the last large string of earthquakes at Mount Rainier, which came in 2009. That earthquake swarm only lasted three days and produced around 120 earthquakes. The swarm, which started during the morning of July 8 saw up to 41 minor earthquakes registering every hour. Since then, the seismic activity has cooled down to just a few each hour, but the tremors still haven't stopped altogether. Despite experiencing hundreds more earthquakes than what was felt in 2009, geologists have said the latest swarm continues to fall within what scientists consider 'normal background levels of activity' for Mount Rainier. While USGS has tried to calm the public regarding this massive uptick in earthquakes in Washington, Mount Rainier is not the only major volcano in the Pacific Northwest that could see an eruption in the next few years. Just 240 miles away in the Pacific Ocean, the Axial Seamount may be only days away from a massive underwater eruption. Just like Mount Rainier, scientists have detected around 100 earthquakes per day, with recent peaks hitting 300 a day. Seismic activity is a sign magma is moving up through cracks in the volcano. Experts have said pressure is building, magma is on the move, and the stage may be set for an underwater eruption similar to the spectacular one that occurred in 2015, which saw up to 2,000 quakes per day.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joseph Fiennes recalls devastating moment he held a fellow traveller as she died after being crushed by a horse in 'unexpected horrific accident' during holiday in Costa Rica
Joseph Fiennes has recalled the horrifying moment he held a fellow traveller as she died after being crushed by a horse while holidaying in Costa Rica. The Shakespeare in Love actor, 55, who is an avid rider, said the woman, whom he did not know, had recently got married, tragically fell from her steed and 'really broke her head' after hitting the ground in front of her new husband. Joseph described holding her as she 'slipped away' in what he described as the 'unexpected horrific accident' that left him unable to sleep for a month. Speaking on the Travel Secrets podcast, he said: 'I love horse riding and I got onto a horse early in the morning to go with a fellow traveller who was staying at the Haciena, who had just got married,' 'I remember getting on the horse, seeing this lovely woman kiss her husband goodbye, and then the horse reared up, and she sadly pulled on the reigns and the weight of the horse came over her and the whole horse landed on her and she fell back and really broke her head on the gravel and died'. He went on: 'I held her for a while, her poor husband was in such shock, he couldn't comprehend or communicate, and she slipped away'. The actor said the woman, whom he did not know, had recently got married tragically fell from steed and 'really broke her head' after hitting the ground in front of her new husband Before adding: 'I couldn't sleep for, God I think, a month, I remember going back into the jungle at the foot of this volcano, and I was really shaken'. Joseph will next be seen in TV adaption of award winning play Dear England, reprising his uncanny role playing England football manager Gareth Southgate. Last week he was seen on set for the first time as filming got under way for the highly-anticipated four-part series, which will air next year. Jospeh was spotted wearing an England training kit while recording scenes at top public school Harrow, which is being used for the squad's Staffordshire training ground, St George's Park. He was joined by former Doctor Who star, Jodie Whittaker, who is playing the team's psychologist Pippa Grange. The play shone a light on the pressures of penalties and Gareth's 'cultural reform' of the England men's national team in his six years as manager. A synopsis for the play read: 'It's time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can't England's men win at their own game? 'With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.' Joseph described holding her as she 'slipped away' in what he described as the 'unexpected horrific accident' that left him unable to sleep for a month Gareth made 57 appearances for England as a player, but is arguably best remembered for missing a crucial penalty kick against Germany in the Euro 96 semi-final at Wembley. He then went on to huge success managing the England men's national team from 2016, leading them to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and the Euro 2020 final. 'Something has gone wrong in England and with England, something that will take more than a sticking plaster to fix,' says Southgate at the beginning of the play. Speaking of the play previously Graham said it will focus on Gareth's 'epic and moving' 'cultural reform' of the England men's football team. Writer James Graham, also who penned BBC One drama Sherwood, said: 'To tell this story of the national game on the stage of the National Theatre is just the greatest thrill, if an intimidating responsibility. The experience of working on This House at the National Theatre 10 years ago changed my life as an emerging writer. 'Now, with Dear England, to be given the opportunity to shine a light on another public institution in the form of the England men's football team is, I know, an exciting opportunity. 'What Gareth Southgate has attempted in his quiet cultural reform of England football I find epic and deeply moving. And I'm so grateful to be surrounded by some of British theatre's most exciting creative talent to unite around this new show.' Actor Joseph was nominated for an Olivier award. It returned to the National Theatre earlier this year before embarking on a national tour.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
Image of 'Japanese volcano spewing lava and ash' is AI-generated
After Mount Shinmoedake in southwestern Japan erupted on June 22, an image was shared in social media posts falsely claiming it showed lava and smoke spewing out of the volcano. The image, however, does not match livestream footage of the volcano and contains visual inconsistencies indicative of AI-generated content. "Japan's Shinmoedake volcano has erupted," reads part of the Sinhala-language caption of an image shared on Facebook on July 4, 2025. "A minor explosion was seen and due to this a plume of ash emerged 3,000 metres into the sky, and the cities across Kagoshima and Miyazaki are covered in dense smoke." The image supposedly shows lava and thick grey smoke spewing from the volcanic eruption. In the foreground there are red and white cars, and drivers and passengers who appear to have stepped out of the vehicles to witness the eruption. It surfaced after Mount Shinmoedake, a volcano in the Kirishima mountain range bordering Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures in southwestern Japan, erupted on June 22 (archived link). The same image was shared in similar posts elsewhere on Facebook. "Oh please, may no one in all of Japan face any trouble! May everyone be safe!" reads a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "May no harm come to all those in Japan." While Mount Shinmoedake has continued to emit smoke since its July 22 eruption, with plumes reportedly reaching 5,000 metres high, the image circulating online does show the volcano (archived link). The image does not correspond to livestream footage of the volcano on the YouTube channels of local broadcasters UMK TV Miyazaki or MBC viewed on July 21 (archived here and here). The Japan Times reported on July 9 that the country's meteorological agency had restricted access to the mountain, and warned that a "large amount of volcanic ash and lava flows will be expected if a full-scale magmatic eruption occurs" (archived link). Moreover, inconsistencies in the picture suggest it was created with the help of AI. Visual anomalies A closer analysis of the falsely shared image shows the doors on a white car in the foreground are positioned incorrectly on the vehicle and the people standing on the road appear to be missing limbs. A subsequent keyword search led to a YouTube video titled "Japanese volcano erupts, spewing lava", which contains the falsely shared image, posted on July 4 (archived link). The video, which was shared on a channel that posts AI-generated content, contains additional visual inconsistencies. For example, a white car enters the bottom of the frame at the three-second mark and crashes into the vehicle in front before immediately disappearing. In reply to a comment on the video, the user also indicated it was created using AI. While generative AI technology is rapidly improving, visual inconsistencies persist and are the best way to identify fabricated content.
ABC News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Richard Fidler: The Volcano That Toppled Two Empires
What does a volcano in Iceland have to do with the religious and political struggles going on across the world today? Well it turns out, a LOT… Back in 536AD, the skies turned dark and the world cooled. It was all thanks to a massive volcanic eruption in Iceland, that no one even knew had happened. It led to a mysterious plague, a pandemic, which swept through the Roman and Persian Empires. In the great Byzantine city of Constantinople, it was said that 10,000 people were dying every day. Between plague and war, the world's two 'superpowers' were too distracted to notice that something major was happening on the Arabian peninsula. The Prophet Mohammed had united the tribes and, when he died, his followers started pushing north. Instead of encountering resistance, they were able to take huge swathes of the Roman Empire and completely destroy the Persian Empire. Richard Fidler, host of ABC Conversations and the author of The Book of Roads and Kingdoms, tells Marc Fennell (Stuff the British Stole, Mastermind) the incredible true story of how the language of Arabic and religion of Islam spread across the world, thanks (in part) to a natural disaster and climate change. Get in touch: Got a story for us? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at noonesawitcoming@
