Volcanic earthquake swarms in late March and early April 2010

Following a phreatic eruption on 15 April 2008, Egon was relatively quiet for a year, prompting the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) to lower the Alert Level from 2 to 1 on 16 July 2009 (BGVN 34:10). This report notes seismicity and steaming between July 2009 and June 2010.

Egon (figure 1) apparently remained quiet until late March 2010, with an average of one or two daily volcanic earthquakes during January-March. Instruments then recorded a volcanic swarm, with as many as 122 events (amplitudes up to 12 mm, durations up to 45 seconds) during the last few days of March. A volcanic swarm also occurred during the week 31 March-6 April, with 26 events (amplitudes up to 4 mm, durations up to 72 seconds). Since 6 April 2010, small steam plumes rose 10 m above the crater and drifted W.

Figure 1. A shaded-relief map showing the location of Egon on central Flores Island (upper box) and a more detailed view of the elongate island and some active volcanoes (solid trianges). Courtesy of CVGHM.

Egon is monitored from the village of Nangatobong, near the island's N coast ~ 6 km NNW of the summit.During the last year and as recent as mid-2010, MODVOLC thermal alerts had been absent.

Information Contacts: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM), Saut Simatupang, 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://vsi.esdm.go.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/).

Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)

March 2004 (BGVN 29:03) Cite this Report

29 January brings sudden eruptive onset, prompting rapid evacuations

This first Bulletin report discussing Egon describes the sudden appearance of volcanic activity there in January 2004. Heavy rains fell over Egon and its surrounding area on 28 January. At 0400 on 29 January, local people heard the sound of the E crater wall collapsing inward. That was followed at 1700 by an explosion and a black ash cloud rising ~ 750 m above the summit. On 30-31 January further noise was followed by gray ash clouds and the odor of highly concentrated sulfur every 50-60 minutes. Visual observation on 31 January revealed a new solfatara.

Volcanic earthquakes were detected on 30 January (intensity III on the Modified Mercali (MMI) scale), and a seismometer installed on 31 January recorded a type-A deep-volcanic earthquake at 1610 and two harmonic tremor events (amplitude 0.5 mm) at 1800. At 2227 an explosion was heard and instrumentally recorded for about 70 seconds. On 1 February, instruments recorded two tremor events and one type-A volcanic earthquake. Egon was placed on Alert level 3 (on a 1-4 scale) on that day.

United Nations reports and news reports from around 31 January indicated that up to 6,400 people were being evacuated from near Egon volcano as a precautionary measure due to "smoke," ash, and other possible emissions. The news cited evacuations from the mountain villages of Hale, Hebing, Lere, Natakoli, Pedat, Bau Krengat, and Kelawair, with refugees going to Maumere (the island's main town, 25 km W of the summit). There were reports of 1 or 2 deaths, but it is not entirely clear that they were related to volcanic activity, evacuations, or other causes.

The European Volcanological Society (SVE) posted this report on the UN's Relief Web website: "One person has been reported killed from smoke and ash inhalation from the eruption of Egon volcano. Thick clouds of smoke and a great discharge of hot ash, large chunks of sulfur and volcanic rocks were seen nearby. The eruption caused panic among residents nearby, and they fled the mountain villages . . . . Eyewitnesses said the lower part of the crater was seen bursting and that was believed to be the main outlet for the hot lava that spewed from the volcano.."

Agence France-Presse published a photo (by Romeo Gacad) with a distant aerial view of Egon's summit as it appeared around sunset on 1 February. A thin plume rose gently above the summit. Lower portions of the photo were in cloud.

A 2 February 2004 United Nations (OCHA) report stated that "Volcanologists continue monitoring the activity of Mt. Egon closely. Since the beginning of February, a decrease in seismic activity and emissions has been registered." This and another UN report noted, as of 13 February ~ 5,000 people had been evacuated and had been accommodated in 14 temporary government shelters. The report went on to note "A gradual return of the evacuated population has already begun and is expected to continue if current conditions remain unchanged. As of 4 February some 600 people have already returned to their villages."

Information Contacts: Dali Ahmad, Hetty Triastuty, Nia Haerani, and Suswati, Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazards (formerly VSI), Jalan Diponegoro No 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/); Dan Shackelford, 3124 E. Yorba Linda Blvd., Apt. H-33, Fullerton, CA 92831-2324, USA; United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), S-3600, New York, NY 10017, USA (URL: https://reliefweb.int/); Henry Gaudru, Société Volcanologique Européenne (SVE), C.P.1-1211 Geneva 17- Switzerland (URL: http://www.sveurop.org/).

August 2004 (BGVN 29:08) Cite this Report

Explosive ash eruptions in July and August; ashfall and evacuations

Volcanic activity began at Egon in late January when ash explosions caused local ashfall (BGVN 29:03). Activity subsequently decreased, and evacuated residents returned home. Reports from the Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (DVGHM) indicated that in May 2004 only ten A-type volcanic earthquakes were detected. These types of events increased to 19 during June, when three shallow B-type volcanic earthquakes were also registered (table 1).

Table 1. Seismicity at Egon during 20 June-29 August 2004. Courtesy of DVGHM.

Volcanism resumed at 1930 on 3 July 2004 when small explosions along with rumbling sounds and a white- gray ash plume rose 100 m and caused ashfall to the SE. Ash from a second small explosion that began with increasing A-type volcanic earthquakes on 6 July at 0100 again drifted SE. Maximum amplitudes (peak-to-peak) of the explosion earthquakes were 1 mm and lasted 60 seconds. White plumes rising to ~ 75 m above the summit were then observed during 5-18 July. Continuous emission earthquakes were recorded during the week of 5-12 July with 2 mm amplitude. After 11 July a PS-2 telemetered seismograph was operational.

A significant ash explosion accompanied by rumbling sounds at 2240 on 25 July 2004 sent a plume ~ 1,000-1,500 m above the summit. A thick black ash column drifted NW and the smell of sulfur gas was very strong. Seismic data indicated that the eruptions lasted about 2 hours and 30 minutes; tremor amplitude was 30-35 mm. Ashfall affected the Egon (3 km NW) and Nangatobong (7.5 km NNW) villages, and 339 families evacuated to Waigete. Daily seismic events increased from 14 to 36 prior to the eruption. Ash explosions continued through 1600 the next day, sending plumes ~ 250 m above the summit at intervals of about a minute. Additional evacuations occurred from Egon, Nangatobong, and Itoper villages. Another explosion at 2200 on 28 July sent volcanic material to a height of 750 m; ash drifted WSW. Recorded tremor emission showed maximum amplitudes decreasing from 5 mm to 2 mm.

By the week of 9-15 August observers were only reporting a thin white plume to ~ 100 m above the summit, although tremor was still being recorded. Similar activity continued through 22 August. On 27 August two eruptions ejected ash plumes more than 250 m high. Shallow volcanic earthquakes increased significantly during the week of 23-29 August.

Information Contacts: Dali Ahmad, Hetty Triastuty, Nia Haerani, Suswati, and Sri Kisyati, Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, Jalan Diponegoro No. 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia, URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/).

May 2005 (BGVN 30:05) Cite this Report

Three eruptions in February 2005 eject ash and gas

Table 2 below tabulates the seismic activity by date of the volcano prior to and subsequent to its eruption on 6 February 2005, but little was reported concerning that event. The volcano erupted again on 7 February. That eruption was accompanied by a strong smell of SO₂ or H₂S in the villages of Hebing and Hale and apparently rendered a villager unconscious.

Table 2. A summary of counts for different earthquake types (type B volcanic, type A volcanic, emission, low frequency, and tectonic), tremor, amplitude, and Alert Level at Egon volcano. Unreported data indicated by "--". Courtesy of the Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (DVGHM) DVGHM.

On 8 February 2005 a fissure about 1 km long appeared along the southern slope. Vegetation along the fissure's margins had died, indicating that a gas blow out had occurred there. On 14 February 2005 at 1830 another explosion occurred. It was accompanied by significant seismic activity (see table 2). This latest eruption ejected ash and glowing material as high as 50 m above the summit. Volcanic earthquakes were frequent.

Distances increased for electronic distance measurements (EDM) during April, July, and October 2004 and during February 2005 (the last four measurements). During 25-27 February 2005 ash plumes rose to 50 m high. Volcano status remained at alert level 4 (the highest hazard status).

Information Contacts: Dali Ahmad, Hetty Triastuty, Nia Haerani, and Sri Kisyati, Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (DVGHM), Jalan Diponegoro No. 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/).

August 2008 (BGVN 33:08) Cite this Report

Phreatic eruption on 15 April 2008 prompted evacuations

The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) indicated that after the 28 January 2004 eruption of Egon, phreatic eruptions often occurred without preceding increases in seismicity. Eruptions reported during July, August, and September 2004, and during February 2005 occasionally resulted in evacuations.

During 4-14 April 2008 visual observations showed daily white plumes rising to an altitude of 1.8 km. This activity was considered to be normal. A peak in seismicity was reached during 6-7 April but then declined significantly through 15 April. On 15 April a phreatic explosion produced an ash plume that rose to an altitude of 5.7 km and drifted ~ 25 km W, reaching Maumere City, the capital of Flores. The emissions were accompanied by thunderous noise. A team of emergency personnel in the closest village to the explosion reported that about 600 people evacuated from three villages. No fatalities were reported.

During 15 April to 10 May, earthquakes declined in number. The altitudes of "eruption plumes" became smaller during the later half of April: on 20, 24, and 28 April, plumes rose to altitudes of 3.7 km, 2.6 km, and 1.8 km, respectively, although the character of the plumes was not described. During 27 April-13 May instruments measuring deformation indicated a return to background rates. Diffuse white plumes rose above the summit on 12 May. Communities on the W flank within 1 km of the peak remained on high alert due to the presence of gasses and the possibility of future phreatic eruptions.

A search of the MODVOLC website found there were no thermal alerts for Egon during this report's time frame.

Information Contacts: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, Saut Simatupang, 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://vsi.esdm.go.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/).

October 2009 (BGVN 34:10) Cite this Report

Update on the 15 April 2008 eruption and April-May 2008 seismicity

Since the eruption of 28 January 2004, Egon has frequently undergone phreatic eruptions without any significant increase in volcanic tremor or earthquakes. Our last report on Egon (BGVN 33:08) summarized the gradual decline of activity during April-May 2008. This report overlaps with the earlier one but benefits from better report translation. The closest large city to Egon is Maumere (Flores), ~ 25 km WNW.

The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) provided additional information on the April-May 2008 disturbances (BGVN 33:08). A spike in the volcano's activity took place on 6-7 April 2008 (table 3). Reports noted a subsequent decrease in earth movements. On 4-15 April 2008 thin white smoke was seen rising ~ 25-50 m above the crater. This emission was considered a daily activity; however seismicity became evident.

Table 3. Seismicity and observations of activity at Egon during 5-28 April 2009. "?" indicates no data reported. Courtesy of CVGHM.

On 15 April 2008 a phreatic eruption occurred and CVGHM raised the Alert Level to 3 ("Saga" - on a scale of 1-4). Visual observations indicated that the ash column rose ~ 4,000 m above the crater; however the ash was not identifiable from satellite survey due to cloud cover. The eruption was accompanied by a "grumbling" sound. An ash/cinder cloud reached the city of Maumere (Flores), ~ 20 km WNW. Because of the height of eruptive plume, authorities at Waioti Airport serving Maumere were alerted. The emergency response team, together with the district government of Sikka (Flores) onsite at the villages closest to the eruption, reported that ~ 600 persons from local villages evacuated; they reported no fatalities.

The Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) issued two alerts of the volcanic activity at Egon, on 15 and 16 April 2008. Between 15 April and 11 May 2008, four explosive tremor events were recorded (table 3). Land deformation in the vicinity of the volcano stabilized after 27 April 2008.

During 15 April-10 May 2008, 1-2 deep volcanic earthquakes occurred daily. Between 25 April to 10 May, shallow volcanic earthquakes decreased from 6-20 daily to 1-10 daily. During that time, tremors caused by hot air blasts continued to be recorded, reaching a rather high total range of around 6-47 events per day. The higher values are comparatively large; a normal stasis condition is considered to be a ~ 1-9 hot air blast signals per day. On 12 May 2008, hot air tremors had amplitudes of 2 mm and durations of 5-11 seconds. Whitish smoke could frequently be seen reaching a height of only 10 m above the peak. On 13 May, CVGHM downgraded the hazard status to Alert Level 2 (Waspada).

For the rest of May 2008 and for more than a year, Egon's was relatively quiet. From 4 March to 12 July 2009, type-A earthquakes were recorded at a rate of 1-2 events per day; type-B earthquakes, 1-3 events per day; (except on 6 May when six were recorded). During that interval there were 1-9 hot air blast earthquakes per day and the hot air blasts of smoke were generally whitish in color and were rose to ~ 10 m over the peak. Eruptive earthquakes were absent. Although tremor was still recorded (with an amplitude of 0.5-4 mm), since 4 March 2009, earth movements have decreased. On 17 July 2009, the CGVHM. downgraded the hazard status to Alert Level 1 (Normal).

MODVOLC review of activity shows no thermal indicators of volcanic activity.

Information Contacts: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, Saut Simatupang, 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://vsi.esdm.go.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/).

May 2010 (BGVN 35:05) Cite this Report

Volcanic earthquake swarms in late March and early April 2010

Following a phreatic eruption on 15 April 2008, Egon was relatively quiet for a year, prompting the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) to lower the Alert Level from 2 to 1 on 16 July 2009 (BGVN 34:10). This report notes seismicity and steaming between July 2009 and June 2010.

Egon (figure 1) apparently remained quiet until late March 2010, with an average of one or two daily volcanic earthquakes during January-March. Instruments then recorded a volcanic swarm, with as many as 122 events (amplitudes up to 12 mm, durations up to 45 seconds) during the last few days of March. A volcanic swarm also occurred during the week 31 March-6 April, with 26 events (amplitudes up to 4 mm, durations up to 72 seconds). Since 6 April 2010, small steam plumes rose 10 m above the crater and drifted W.

Figure 1. A shaded-relief map showing the location of Egon on central Flores Island (upper box) and a more detailed view of the elongate island and some active volcanoes (solid trianges). Courtesy of CVGHM.

Egon is monitored from the village of Nangatobong, near the island's N coast ~ 6 km NNW of the summit.During the last year and as recent as mid-2010, MODVOLC thermal alerts had been absent.

Information Contacts: Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM), Saut Simatupang, 57, Bandung 40122, Indonesia (URL: http://vsi.esdm.go.id/); Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) Thermal Alerts System, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), Univ. of Hawai'i, 2525 Correa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA (URL: http://modis.higp.hawaii.edu/).