Sunday, February 23News That Matters

Tag: volcanic erruption

Goma Dual Crisis M23 Rebel Group Takeover & Mount Nyiragongo Threat

Goma Dual Crisis M23 Rebel Group Takeover & Mount Nyiragongo Threat

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
In January 2025, the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fell under the control of the M23 rebel group. This marked a deadly escalation in a decades-long conflict that has led to mass displacement and numerous deaths. Goma, home to two million people, faces a compounded risk. Just 12 miles from the city lies Mount Nyiragongo, one of the world’s most dangerous active volcanoes. The volcano’s lava flows can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour faster than a person can run. During its 2021 eruption, thousands were displaced and at least 250 people lost their lives. An earlier eruption in 2002 left 13% of Goma buried in lava. The DRC exemplifies the dangers faced by fragile, conflict-affected regions when natural disasters strike. Climate change further intensifies v...
Kilauea Volcano Erupts Again, Offering Spectacular Displays at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Kilauea Volcano Erupts Again, Offering Spectacular Displays at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has erupted once more, marking its seventh episode in a series of recent volcanic activities. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirmed that this latest eruption began with minor spattering before escalating to sustained lava fountaining on Monday, captivating visitors with its fiery spectacle. Lava fountains have reached heights of 100 to 120 feet (30 to 40 meters) on the volcano’s northern side, while smaller flows have been observed to the south. This episode is part of a pattern of eruptions since December 23, with each phase lasting between 13 hours and eight days, interspersed with pauses ranging from less than a day to nearly two weeks. The current activity is expected to persist for 10 to 20 hours. Situated within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, ...
Earthquakes in Ethiopia’s Afar and Oromia Raise Fears of Volcanic Eruptions Amid Widespread Evacuations

Earthquakes in Ethiopia’s Afar and Oromia Raise Fears of Volcanic Eruptions Amid Widespread Evacuations

Breaking News, Disasters
Since the start of 2025, Ethiopia's Afar and Oromia regions have been rocked by a series of earthquakes, the strongest measuring 5.7 in magnitude on January 4. The quake's epicenter, 142 km east of Addis Ababa, followed a 5.5-magnitude tremor the previous day. Over the weekend of January 11, two more significant quakes were reported, heightening concerns of further seismic and volcanic activity. The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Council has responded by relocating approximately 60,000 residents to temporary shelters to safeguard lives. The tremors have also sparked fears of potential eruptions at the Fentale and Dofen volcanoes, both located near the quake zones. Unusual Seismic Activity Linked to Magma Movement The current spate of earthquakes is attributed to magmatic activ...
Ethiopia Faces Earthquake Surge, Volcanic Eruption Fears

Ethiopia Faces Earthquake Surge, Volcanic Eruption Fears

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
Ethiopia's Afar and Oromia regions have experienced a series of earthquakes since early 2025, sparking fears of volcanic eruptions near the Fentale and Dofen volcanoes. The strongest quake, with a magnitude of 5.7, struck on January 4, a day after a 5.5-magnitude tremor hit the same area. Two additional earthquakes followed over the weekend of January 11. The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Council is relocating around 60,000 residents to temporary shelters, citing risks of further quakes and potential volcanic activity. The earthquakes are linked to magmatic activity, where magma (molten rock) is intruding beneath the Fentale and Dofen volcanoes. Ethiopia lies within the East African Rift System, a geologically active zone, making both earthquakes and volcanic activity common. ...
Scientists Warn Undersea Volcano Off U.S. Coast Likely to Erupt by 2025

Scientists Warn Undersea Volcano Off U.S. Coast Likely to Erupt by 2025

Breaking News, Disasters, Tech
A team of researchers has issued a striking forecast: Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano located 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, is primed for an eruption by the end of 2025. This prediction has made waves in the scientific community, as it brings humanity closer to understanding and forecasting submarine volcanic activity. Axial Seamount, situated along the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the northeast Pacific, is the region’s most active submarine volcano. Its frequent activity has made it a prime site for research, housing the world’s first underwater volcano observatory since 1997. Over the years, scientists have meticulously studied its behavior, uncovering patterns that hint at impending eruptions. Key to predicting Axial’s eruptions is the inflation of its surface, caused by magma...
Scientists Identify ‘Mystery Volcano’ That Cooled Earth’s Climate in 1831

Scientists Identify ‘Mystery Volcano’ That Cooled Earth’s Climate in 1831

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
Nearly two centuries after one of the most powerful eruptions of the 19th century caused global temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere to drop by around 1 degree Celsius, scientists have pinpointed the culprit: Zavaritskii volcano on Simushir Island in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The island is part of the Kuril Islands archipelago, a region disputed between Russia and Japan. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, the groundbreaking study links the historic 1831 eruption to Zavaritskii, which had previously been dormant since 800 BC. This revelation comes after decades of uncertainty, during which researchers knew the year of the eruption but struggled to locate the volcano responsible. The breakthrough came from analyzing ice cores collected from ...
Toddler Narrowly Escapes 400-Foot Plunge into Kilauea Volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Toddler Narrowly Escapes 400-Foot Plunge into Kilauea Volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
Hawaii: A family visiting the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park experienced a harrowing moment last week when their toddler wandered away and nearly fell into the heart of the active volcano. According to report, the quick reflexes of the boy’s mother saved him “just in the nick of time,” preventing what could have been a tragic accident. The toddler had split from his family and ran straight toward the edge of Kilauea's 400-foot caldera a massive crater formed by volcanic activity. Park officials confirmed that the child would not have survived the fall had he plunged into the caldera. Incident in a Restricted Area The family was reportedly visiting a closed area behind the post-and-cable barrier at the Kilauea Overlook when the incident occurred. National park of...
Scientists Announce Axial Seamount Undersea Volcano Blast Oregon Coast in 2025

Scientists Announce Axial Seamount Undersea Volcano Blast Oregon Coast in 2025

Breaking News, Disasters, Learning & Developments
An undersea volcano located approximately 470 kilometers off the coast of Oregon, Axial Seamount, is showing signs of an impending eruption. Researchers have identified critical indicators such as ground deformation, increased seismic activity, and magma buildup beneath the surface. These findings suggest that the volcano could erupt as early as 2025, marking a significant milestone in volcanic monitoring, where predictions of eruptions are rarely this precise. Axial Seamount, one of the world’s most closely observed submarine volcanoes, has been the subject of continuous study through state-of-the-art instruments installed on the seafloor. These devices record real-time data, enabling scientists to track its activity. A study presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting title...
NASA  Juno Uncovers the Secret of Io Volcanic Activity

NASA Juno Uncovers the Secret of Io Volcanic Activity

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
NASA’s Juno mission has resolved a 44-year-old mystery about Io, Jupiter’s fiery moon. New research reveals that each of Io’s volcanoes is powered by its own localized magma chamber, dismissing the long-held theory of a global magma ocean beneath the moon's surface. The groundbreaking discovery was unveiled in a study published in Nature on December 12 and was also a highlight of the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting in Washington. The finding deepens our understanding of Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system, and its role in planetary science. Io, about the size of Earth’s Moon, hosts over 400 volcanoes that constantly spew lava and gas. While the moon was discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610, its volcanic activity wasn’t observed until 1979, when NASA...
Volcanic Activity Unveiled on Moon’s Far Side: Chang’e-6 Mission Breakthrough

Volcanic Activity Unveiled on Moon’s Far Side: Chang’e-6 Mission Breakthrough

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space
A groundbreaking collaborative study by U.S. and Chinese scientists has uncovered evidence of ancient volcanic activity on the Moon's far side, a region often shrouded in mystery. The analysis of basalt fragments collected during China's Chang'e-6 mission reveals volcanic eruptions dating back over 4.2 billion years, with some surprisingly recent activity around 2.83 billion years ago. The findings, published in prestigious journals Nature and Science, shed new light on the Moon's lesser-explored far side, offering insights into its unique geological history compared to the near side visible from Earth. Chang'e-6 made history as the first mission to retrieve samples from the Moon's far side, braving significant challenges during its nearly two-month operation. Using advanced radiomet...