The Aviation Color Code for White Island volcano in New Zealand was raised to Orange on December 16, 2024, following observations of occasional volcanic ash emissions alongside larger steam and gas plumes on December 14. The activity could lead to a new eruptive episode. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2.
The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) detected an earthquake swarm in Hofsjökull volcano on December 13, 2024, with the strongest quake recorded as M3.3 at a depth of 8.8 km (5.5 miles). The last eruption of the Hofsjökull volcano occurred approximately 12 000 years ago.
A civil defense project to further raise earthen dams around the Svartsengi Power Plant was initiated on December 9, 2024. The effort aims to safeguard the infrastructure against future lava flows.
New activity/unrest was reported for 7 volcanoes from December 4 to 10, 2024. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported 17 volcanoes.
Larger steam and gas plumes have been detected at Whakaari/White Island volcano, New Zealand since December 10, 2024. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2 and the Aviation Color Code is maintained at Yellow. No ash emissions have been detected so far.
A new eruption was observed at Home Reef submarine volcano in Tonga through satellite imagery acquired on December 7, 2024. This marks the second eruptive phase at Home Reef volcano this year.
A powerful explosive eruption took place at Kanlaon volcano, Philippines at 15:03 LT (07:03 UTC) on December 9, 2024, producing a massive ash plume and pyroclastic flows. As a result, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the Alert Level to 3 and ordered urgent evacuation of 87 000 people living near the volcano.
A strong explosion took place at Indonesia’s Dukono volcano at 06:15 local time (LT) on December 7, 2024, producing a tall ash column up to 6 km (20 000 feet) above sea level (a.s.l.).
An earthquake swarm began in the Campi Flegri area in southern Italy at 04:33 UTC (05:33 local time (LT) on Friday, December 6, 2024, and ended by 17:14 UTC.
Increased seismic activity was observed at Indonesia’s Ranakah volcano over the past month, prompting the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) to raise the Alert Status for the volcano from Level 1 to Level 2 on December 3, 2024. The last eruption at this volcano took place in 1991.
