Santiaguito volcano (Guatemala) activity update: sporadic explosions, continuing lava dome growth, small lava flow on SE flank

INSIVUMEH reported that active lava flows on the SE flanks of Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex generated block avalanches during 18-19 and 23 January. On 19 and 23 January explosions generated ash plumes that rose 400-800 m above the complex. On 19 January ashfall was reported in communities of La Florida (5 km S), Palajunoj (SW flank), and San Marcos (46 km NW). ... Read all

During the month of January 2012 the activity of the volcanic dome of Santiaguito Caliente has been steady with many degassing emissions and ash plumes well above the top of the volcano Santa Maria (the volcano father). during the 4 days of observation of the activity by the team of geologists and volcanologists during an expedition to VolcanoDiscovery, we identified one to two hours by pyroclastic flow. These flows are formed by avalanches of ash and incandescent blocks produced during the surge in gas and magma during the extrusion of the dome and they ran down the sides of the South and South West dome to spread out up to 500 m to 1 km distance from the base of the dome. ... Read all