Tungurahua, Ecuador – increase in seismic activity reported

tungurahua-ecuador-increase-in-seismic-activity-reported

Increase in seismic activity is being reported at Ecuadorian volcano Tungurahua, comparable to that of December 2012, when the volcano had erupted with ash plume of over 7 km. Activity at Tungurahua had slowed down ever since but again on February 25 and 27, five tremors were registered with ongoing underground lava activity. Total 80 tremors had been recorded till March 1st, occurring on short intervals.

Ecuadorian Geophisic Institute reports emissions of gases and ashes from the open vent of the volcano. Given that this volcano is only 80 kilometers away from the capital city Quito, public is advised to continue monitoring the activity.

Tungurahua, a steep-sided andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano that towers more than 3 km above its northern base, is one of Ecuador’s most active volcanoes. Three major volcanic edifices have been sequentially constructed since the mid-Pleistocene over a basement of metamorphic rocks. Tungurahua II was built within the past 14,000 years following the collapse of the initial edifice. Tungurahua II itself collapsed about 3000 years ago and produced a large debris-avalanche deposit and a horseshoe-shaped caldera open to the west, inside which the modern glacier-capped stratovolcano (Tungurahua III) was constructed (GVP).

Historical eruptions have all originated from the summit crater. They have been accompanied by strong explosions and sometimes by pyroclastic flows and lava flows that reached populated areas at the volcano’s base. Prior to a long-term eruption beginning in 1999 that caused the temporary evacuation of the city of Baños at the foot of the volcano, the last major eruption had occurred from 1916 to 1918, although minor activity continued until 1925.

Source: PLEnglish

Featured image: LesmodeCC BY 2.0

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