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.
Rapid land elevation near Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano indicated the formation of a new magma chamber, prompting warnings of a potential volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the weeks or months to come. The Icelandic Meteorological Office urged caution, especially for those planning outdoor activities in the region.
Significant activity was reported at Russia’s Bezymianny volcano from 19:00 to 20:30 UTC on October 16, 2023. Large hot avalanches collapsed on the eastern slopes, and an ash plume reached a height of 3.5 km a.s.l. The Aviation Color Code was elevated from Yellow to Orange.
Two shallow earthquakes registered by GSRAS as M5.8 and M5.9 hit southern Iran at 04:59 UTC (08:29 LT) and 05:10 UTC (08:40 LT), respectively, on October 17, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). USGS registered them as M5.1 and M5.5.
As of October 15, 2023, devastating flash floods and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) have resulted in 100 fatalities in the states of Sikkim and West Bengal in northeastern India. The events, which began on October 4 along the Teesta River, have also left 76 people missing, 30 injured, and have displaced 2 321 individuals into 20 relief camps.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit Anreanof Islands, Alaska at 11:35 UTC on October 16, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 187 km (116 miles).
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 at 03:36 UTC (08:06 local time) on October 15, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 8 km (5 miles). This region of Afghanistan was hit by a total 4 of M6.3 earthquakes (USGS) since October 7 when twin M6.3s killed more than 2 400 people.
A bright fireball streaked through the night sky over Sardinia, Italy at 21:53 UTC on October 8, 2023. The fireball was recorded by two Sardinian Prisma cameras.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit west of Macquarie Island, western Indian-Antarctic Ridge at 03:44 UTC on October 13, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 4.9 km (3.1 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).
An annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America on October 14, 2023. Offering a “ring of fire” effect, this celestial event will be a sight for millions across the Western Hemisphere.
The Yasur volcano on Tanna Island, Vanuatu is experiencing a sustained high activity level, with recent satellite data revealing significant gas and ash emissions. Powerful eruptions ejecting rocks and volcanic bombs have been reported, posing serious risks to the local populace and visitors.
