Three thousand earthquakes in two days and awakened volcanoes in Sicily and Iceland. Where else are there active volcanoes and which are considered the most dangerous in the world?
In Iceland, an entire city has already been evacuated due to the threat of a volcanic eruption, and in Sicily, cities are covered in a layer of ash. This is because on November 13, Mount Etna began to erupt, and the Fagradalsfjall volcano woke up in Iceland. How does this threaten people?
Two volcanoes woke up at once: Etna in Sicily and Fagradalsfjall in Iceland
According to Euronews, the Italian volcano Etna, after several months of calm, again began spewing lava and ash over Sicily on November 13, 2023. A powerful plume of steam rose into the sky from the southeastern crater of Europe's tallest and most active volcano.
The volcanic eruption reached a height of 4.5 km above sea level, causing ash to cover several cities such as Milo and Zafferana.
Iceland has also recorded atypical volcanic activity. The Fagradalsfjall volcano has already awakened here, and seismic activity in the vicinity of the volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula has increased sharply. Over the past two days, almost three thousand earthquakes have been recorded in the area.
A state of emergency has been declared and residents of the town of Grindavik, located on the southwest coast 40 kilometers from the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, have been evacuated.
There are 33 active mountain-volcanic systems in Iceland. Fagradalsfjall began erupting in 2021 after a lull of 800 years. Experts speak of "unprecedented activity."
The 5 most dangerous volcanoes in the world
1. Vesuvius, Italy
Italy has not only the volcano Etna, which we have already mentioned, but also the infamous Vesuvius. Vesuvius made history when, in 79 AD, it buried the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under layers of ash and lava.
Location: Gulf of Naples, Italy.
Type: Stratovolcano.
Last eruption: March 1944.
Who's at risk: 3 million people living around the volcano.
Monitoring: Scientists at the Vesuvius Observatory are closely supervising its volcano activity to prepare for future eruptions and minimize potential loss of life.
2. Mount Rainier, USA
Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano that contains large amounts of glacial ice on its slopes, making it very vulnerable to lahars (deadly debris flows of volcanic origin).
Location: Washington State, USA.
Type: Stratovolcano.
Who's at risk: The volcano threatens densely populated areas, including the city of Seattle and its suburbs.
Monitoring responsibility: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
3. Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo
The volatile stratovolcano Nyiragongo contains the world's largest lava lake. The unpredictability of its eruptions, coupled with the proximity of the city of Goma, poses a great danger to the local population.
Location: Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Type: a stratovolcano with a lava lake.
Who is at risk: Residents of the nearby town of Goma.
Monitoring: Volcano monitoring networks were established and emergency response plans developed to ensure timely evacuation.
4. Merapi, Indonesia
This Indonesian stratovolcano has a long history of deadly eruptions, with the last major eruption occurring in 2010 and claiming hundreds of lives.
Location: Central Java, Indonesia.
Type: Stratovolcano.
Who's at risk: Nearby densely populated areas that the volcano is surrounded by.
Monitoring: Volcanic activity is closely monitored, and a well-established early warning system is in place to protect local communities.
5. Popocatépetl, Mexico
Mount Popocatépetl is in the heart of Mexico and is an active stratovolcano. It has been erupting since 1994.
Location: Central Mexico, near Mexico City.
Type: Stratovolcano.
Who's at risk: Residents of Mexico City, as the volcano is nearby.
Monitoring: The National Center for the Prevention of Natural Disasters (CENAPRED) closely monitors the volcano and issues warnings and evacuation plans as needed.
