Volcanic Eruption with lava at Fagradalsfjall, Reykjanes Peninsula
(UPDATED 1/14/24) The strong earthquake swarm that started this week near Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula is caused by magma forming a dike - a vertical fissure-shaped intrusion at shallow depth, which allows the magma to rise and get closer to an eruption. This now threatens one of Iceland's most important tourism regions and is home to the iconic Blue Lagoon Resort. Civil Protection just declared a Level Orange emergency, and residents of Grindavík were told to evacuate.
I was recently in Iceland and personally witnessed over 2,000 strong earthquakes during my visit, which resulted in roads being blocked by falling lava rock and massive cracks forming on the main highway. The construction of protective barriers around the Blue Lagoon in Svartsengi was well underway to shield it from potential lava flows. However the Iceland volcano finally erupted on December 18 and according to a Volcanologist, “at first glance the eruption is in the worst location for both Grindavík and Svartsengi [area of the power station and Blue Lagoon.)"
In Italy, a “super volcano” is the most dangerous volcanic threat in the country. The area of Campi Flegrei is located under the bay of Naples and the islands of Capri and Ischia to the outskirts of the city of Naples. An estimated 3 million residents of Naples live immediately near the edge of the volcano zone, and evacuation routes are currently being planned in the area.
Outside an evacuated road in Grindavik, Iceland
According to Volcano Discovery, “the famed Mt Etna volcano in Italy shows clear signs that it is no longer in a deep slumber and might wake up with a more aggressive phase of eruptions at any time. With occasional, mild strombolian explosions from the SE crater this week, indications are that magma inside remains high.”
They add, “In many cases, such activity has been prelude for violent lava-fountaining episodes known as paroxysms, such as last in August this year. The onset of these is usually characterized by increasing strombolian activity along with a rise in volcanic tremor, first increasing gradually over hours or days, then very sharply during few minutes until reaching impressive peaks of violent activity.”
Lava flows in a stream from Mount Etna.
Experts are now warning about other volcanoes around the world that are posing a significant threat and believe a warming planet due to human-induced climate change is likely to contribute to the rise of volcanoes erupting. There are currently 47 volcanoes in continuing eruption status as of 15 December 2023 according to Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program, “There are typically 40-50 continuing eruptions, and out of those generally around 20 will be actively erupting on any particular day.”
Among the most active areas in the world, Indonesia leads the pack with seven eruptions happening. Other high-activity areas include Russia, Papua New Guinea, Japan, and even the United States, which has two active volcanos.
The following are the most active, erupting, and restless volcanoes in the world today, according to volcanologist Dr. Tom Pfeiffer at Volcano Discovery, including volcanoes we should watch out for.
Billowing smoke and flowing lava from a volcanic eruption on the outskirts of the evacuated town of ... [+]
ICELAND
*Reykjanes volcano (Grindivak, Iceland) *Eruption, new activity
Dramatic new eruption has now reached the town of Grindivak and has started burning homes. Grindivak and surrounding areas are under an evacuation order. Link to livestream of lava hitting the town here.
EUROPE
Campi Flegrei (Naples, Italy) *Unrest
This Phlegrean Fields volcano is located near Naples and under the islands of Capri and Ischia.
Etna (Sicily, Italy) *Erupting, new activity
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy) *Erupting
Mt. Michael (British Territory) *Erupting
A Massai tribesman stands on the slopes leading up to the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in the Ngorongoro ... [+]
AFRICA
*Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (Tanzania) *Eruption warning
Ol Doinyo Lengai, a cone with two craters is considered by the Massai people, to be the home of God, which is also the meaning of the name. When it erupts it has an unusual, cold liquid lava.
Karthala (Comores, Indian Ocean) *unrest
Barren Island (Indian Ocean) *unrest
Erta Ale (Danakil depression, Ethiopia) *Erupting
Nyiragongo (Congo) *Erupting
Mount Bromo volcano
INDONESIA
With more than 13,000 islands, Indonesia leads the world with the largest number of active volcanoes. The areas volcanoes have also produced the most fatalities.
*Lewotobi (Flores Island) *Erupting
*Krakatau (Indonesia) *Erupting
Karangatang (Indonesia) *Eruption warning
Kerinci (Indonesia) *unrest
Inielika Volcano (Indonesia) *unrest
Dukono (Halmahera, Indonesia) *Erupting
Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia) *Erupting
Merapi (Central Java, Indonesia) *Erupting
Semeru (East Java, Indonesia) *Erupting
Lewotolo (Lesser Sunda Islands) *Erupting
Popocatepetl is an active volcano, located in the states of Puebla, Mexico, and Morelos, in Central ... [+]
MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN
Rincón de la Vieja volcano (Costa Rica) *Eruption warning
The largest and most active volcano in Costa Rica. It last erupted in 2021.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico) *Erupting
Santiaguito (Guatemala) *Erupting
Fuego (Guatemala) *Erupting
Masaya (Nicaragua) *Erupting
Ubinas volcano in southwest Peru erupts, sending smoke and ash into the air.
SOUTH AMERICA
Ubinas Volcano (Peru) *Eruption warning
Laguna del Maule volcano (Central Chile) *Unrest
Puracé volcano (Colombia) *Unrest
Cerro Negro de Mayasquer volcano (Colombia) *Unrest
Reventador (Ecuador) *Erupting
Sangay (Ecuador) *Erupting
Sabancaya (Peru) *Erupting
Villarrica volcano (Central Chile) *Unrest
Nevado del Ruiz volcano (Colombia) *Unrest
Smoldering Mt Erebus, the worlds most southern active volcano
ANTARCTICA
Erebus (Antarctica) *Erupting
Erebus is among the most inhospitable and remote location of any active volcano in the world. It is famous for its active boiling lava lake.
Eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano
UNITED STATES
Kilauea (Hawai'i) *Unrest
Great Sitkin volcano (Aleutian Islands) *Eruption warning
Shishaldin volcano (Aleutian Islands) *Unrest
RUSSIA
Klyuchevskoy volcano (Kamchatkka) *Unrest
Shiveluch (Kamchatka) *Erupting
Ebeko (Paramushir Island, Kuril Islands) *Erupting
Bezimianny (Central Kamchatka) *Erupting
SOUTH PACIFIC
*Bagana Volcano (Papua New Guinea) *Unrest, eruption warning
*Uluwan Volcano (Papua New Guinea) *Unrest, eruption warning
*Aoba Volcano (Vanuatu) *Unrest, eruption warning
White Island (New Zealand) *Unrest
Tofua Volcano (Tonga) *Unrest
Yasur (Vanuatu) *Erupting
Home Reef (Tonga) *Unrest
Sakura-jima volcano erupts
JAPAN
*Suwanose Jima (Japan) *Erupting
*Sakura-jima (Kyushu, Japan) *Erupting
Kirishima (Japan)
Aso Volcano (Japan) *unrest
Nishino-Shima (Japan) *Unrest, eruption warning
Kikai (Japan) *unrest
Kuchinoerabu-jima (Japan) *Unrest
Iwu-jima (Bonin Islands, Japan) *Unrest
AUSTRALIA
Heard Volcano (Australia) *Unrest
Mayon Volcano at the southeastern Luzon
PHILIPPINES
*Mayon (Luzon Island) *New activity, eruption warning
Canlaon (Central Philippines) *unrest
Bulusan (Luzon Island) *unrest
Taal (Luzon Island) *Unrest
