Seismic readings indicated the onset of a glacial outburst flood from Grímsvötn volcano on January 13, 2025. Grímsvatn floods have occurred almost annually since November 2021. There are examples of volcanic eruptions occurring due to pressure relief in Grímsvötn after water gushes from there. However, glacial outburst floods have occurred much more frequently without volcanic eruptions.
Ethiopia’s southern Afar and northern Oromia regions are experiencing an ongoing seismo-volcanic crisis that has injured two people, displaced over 60 000 residents, and caused extensive infrastructure damage since December 22, 2024.
An earthquake swarm began in the Campi Flegrei area of southern Italy at 07:58 LT (06:58 UTC) on January 13, 2025.
Weak to moderate steam and gas plumes with traces of volcanic ash continue at White Island volcano, New Zealand, on January 13, 2025. The Alert Level remains at 2 while the Aviation Color Code has been raised to Orange.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.8 hit near the coast of Kyushu, Japan at 12:19 UTC (21:19 LT) on January 13, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 49 km (30 miles). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is reporting M6.4 at a depth of 30 km (18 miles).
A strong eruption at Ibu volcano produced lava fountains reaching hundreds of meters and ash plumes rising to 5.5 km (18 000 feet) a.s.l., on January 11, 2025, accompanied by volcanic lightning and active lava dome growth. The Aviation Color Code remains at Orange following an upgrade to Red on January 11 for a brief time.
Extreme rainfall hit parts of Minas Gerais, Brazil late Saturday into Sunday, January 11 into 12, 2025, causing destructive landslides in which at least 10 people lost their lives. Most casualties were reported in Ipatinga where nearly 80 mm (3.1 inches) of rain fell in just one hour, causing widespread destruction.
Two massive wildfires in Los Angeles County have scorched more than 14 973 ha (37 000 acres), leaving at least 24 people dead, destroying over 12 000 structures, and threatening tens of thousands more, as of late Sunday, January 12, 2025.
The Palisades Fire, now the largest of six active wildfires in Los Angeles County, has scorched over 15 400 ha (38 000 acres), destroyed 5 300 structures, and forced new evacuations as containment remains at 11%. To improve public awareness and operational transparency, CAL FIRE LNU has introduced real-time 3D aircraft tracking on its incident map.
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 hit Michoacan, Mexico at 08:32 UTC (02:32 LT) on January 12, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 86 km (53 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
