The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: August 13-19, 2026
New activity/unrest was reported for 6 volcanoes from August 13-19, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 15 volcanoes.
Strong and shallow M6.2 earthquake hits Scotia Sea
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 hit the Scotia Sea at 08:22 UTC on August 22, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. According to the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), there is no tsunami threat to Caribbean coasts from this earthquake.
Three tornadoes confirmed after severe storms leave at least two dead in Germany
At least two people died, and at least 12 were injured in separate incidents during severe weather across Germany on August 19–20, 2026. By August 21, the German Weather Service (DWD) confirmed three damaging tornadoes in Fürstenwalde/Spree, the greater Wetzlar area, and Höhr-Grenzhausen, while recovery operations continued across several states.
Slope collapse at gold mine leaves at least 12 dead in Nariño, Colombia
At least 12 people were killed and at 5 others were injured when a slope collapsed at an open-pit gold-mining site in the Puerto Rico area of Policarpa, Nariño, Colombia, on August 19, 2026. Community members and firefighters conducted the search with support from two excavators, and the operation ended at about 02:00 local time (LT) on August 20.
Dover declares State of Emergency after tornadoes and severe storms strike parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware
A confirmed tornado moved through Dover, Delaware, on August 20, 2026, prompting a Particularly Dangerous Situation warning and a city State of Emergency. The tornado damaged buildings, downed trees, flooded roads and disrupted power in Dover, while severe storms in Pennsylvania injured 1 person, displaced at least 13 residents and damaged Eastern York High School and buildings in Columbia.
Discharge rises, significant gas pollution reported during Múlakvísl glacial outburst flood, Iceland
Electrical conductivity in Múlakvísl rose to just over 500 µS/cm during an ongoing glacial outburst flood on August 20, 2026, while discharge increased and significant gas pollution continued, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). The river level had not risen significantly, but webcam observations showed the river spreading across a wider area.
Granada seismic sequence exceeds 620 earthquakes, around 600 residents evacuated, Spain
A shallow seismic sequence south of Granada, Spain, has produced more than 600 earthquakes since August 14, 2026, including two M4.8 events. Around 600 residents were evacuated in Las Gabias while hundreds of buildings were inspected for damage.
Strong M6.7 earthquake hits Ayacucho, Peru
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit Ayacucho, Peru, at 18:00 UTC on August 20, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 66.7 km (41.4 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 70 km (43.5 miles). According to the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
Landslide kills 5 at railway construction site in Guangxi, China
A landslide struck a railway construction site in Nandan County, Hechi City, Guangxi, China, at about 11:26 LT (03:26 UTC) on August 17, 2026, burying five workers. All five were confirmed dead after search operations ended on August 19.
Heavy rain triggers evacuations in Sichuan, China
Heavy rain triggered two geological disasters in Sichuan Province, China, between August 18 and 19, 2026, disrupting National Highway G350 and prompting the pre-emptive evacuation of 21 784 people from risk areas across 64 counties. In a separate rain-related structural accident in Changning County on August 18, a rooftop parapet wall collapsed during a university-admission banquet, killing 5 people and injuring 17.
