The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: January 3 – 9, 2024
New activity/unrest was reported for 4 volcanoes from January 3 to 9, 2024. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 17 volcanoes.
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
Man missing after falling into a ground crack in Grindavik, Iceland
A man is missing after falling into a ground crack caused by recent volcanic activity on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. The incident occurred in Grindavik, a coastal fishing town near the site of a recent eruption, on Wednesday morning, January 10, 2024.
Shika Nuclear Power Plant hit by 3 m (9.8 feet) tsunami waves after M7.6 earthquake on January 1
The Shika Nuclear Power Plant in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, experienced a 3 m (9.8 feet) tsunami waves after the M7.6 earthquake hit Noto Peninsula on January 1, 2024. While the plant sustained no major damage, the incident has raised concerns about nuclear safety, reminiscent of the Fukushima disaster.
M6.4 earthquake hits Hindu Kush, Afghanistan at intermediate depth
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.4 hit Hindu Kush, Afghanistan at 09:20 UTC on January 11, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 206.6 km (128 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 201 km (125 miles).
Increased eruptive activity at Lewotobi, Alert Level raised to highest, evacuation orders issued, Indonesia
Eruptive activity at the Lewotobi volcanic complex further increased over the past 10 days, prompting the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) to raise the Alert Level to the highest (4 of 4) on January 9, 2024.
Shallow M6.0 earthquake hits off the coast of Noto Peninsula, site of destructive M7.6 earthquake on January 1
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the JMA as M6.0 hit off the coast of Noto Peninsula, Japan at 08:59 UTC on January 9, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The USGS is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 10 km.
M6.7 earthquake hits near Talaud Islands, Indonesia
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit near Talaud Islands, Indonesia at 20:48 UTC on January 8, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 68 km (42 miles). BMKG is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 97 km (60 miles); EMSC M6.8 at a depth of 91 km (56 miles).
Deadly avalanche strikes Italy’s Piedmont region
Heavy rainfall, snow, and strong winds have battered most of Italy over the past couple of days, culminating in a deadly snow avalanche in the Formazza Valley of the Piedmont region.
Rare tornado hits Pyrgos, Greece
A rare tornado hit the city of Pyrgos in Western Greece shortly before dawn on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
Freezing temperatures hit flooded farms in northern Germany
As northern Germany welcomes frost following weeks of rain and flooding, farmers and authorities are grappling with the mixed effects on dykes and flooded lands, amid constrained government budgets for relief and future flood prevention.
