A brand new Canary island is emerging from the sea as an underwater volcano bubbles to the surface. Magma off the Canary Island of El Hierro has been spewing 20 metres high as the sea boils with a smell of sulphur. As it grows and gets closer to the surface, more and more debris such as stones start to shoot out of the volcano which, until now, has only shown its explosive power below the surface. It is now just 70 metres from the surface and islanders are already trying to come up with a name for the new island. It is quite close to El Hierro and if it continues to erupt it could eventually meet up with the mainland.
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Rising from beneath the waves: A new Canary Island emerges as underwater volcano hits the surface
Published November 13, 2011 TECTONICS , Volcano Leave a Comment
Scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo have recorded significant increased volcanic activity around Goma in the east of the country. Half of the city was destroyed in 2002 after the nearest of two volcanoes, Mount Nyiragongo, erupted. Now Mount Nyamulagira, which lies 25km (16 miles) from Goma, may soon erupt. Scientist Dieudonne Wafula told the BBC if it did erupt, there would not be an immediate threat to Goma, but some key rural roads could be cut off.
A strong earthquake has struck south of Mexico’s capital, Mexico City, causing buildings to shake and prompting workers to rush out on to the streets. The quake had a magnitude of 5.6, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS said the quake had hit 240km (150 miles) south of the capital. There were no reports of injuries
Two moderate earthquakes have hit eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 22 people and destroying about 200 homes, officials say. The US Geological Survey says a 5.5-magnitude quake struck at 0157 local time (2127 GMT), followed by a 5.1-magnitude aftershock two hours later. The quakes struck in Nangarhar province, about 50 miles (80km) east of Kabul near the Pakistan border
As Italy reeled yesterday from a powerful earthquake that killed at least 179 people and flattened entire towns while people slept, a seismologist who claimed he could have given up to 24 hours notice of the disaster said his repeated warnings had been ignored.
At least 90 people are believed dead and tens of thousands homeless after an earthquake hit L’Aquila and other towns in central Italy, rescuers say. About 1,500 people were injured and many people are still missing as rescuers search desperately for survivors trapped beneath rubble. The 6.3-magnitude quake struck at 0330 (0130 GMT) close to L’Aquila.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7984867.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/07/italy-earthquake-onna-abruzzo
A volcano in the American state of Alaska has erupted six times in 24 hours, shooting ash and steam 15km into the air. It’s the first time in 20 years that Mount Redoubt has come to life. Ash has fallen on nearby towns, but no-one is thought to be in danger. It has caused some flights that travel near the volcano to be cancelled
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7960000/newsid_7963500/7963594.stm
Scientists sailed out to have a closer look at the eruptions of an undersea volcano off the coast of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean today. Tonga’s head geologist, Kelepi Mafi, said there was no apparent danger to residents of Nuku’alofa and others living on the main island of Tongatapu. Officials also said it may be related to a quake with a magnitude of 4.4 which struck last March 13 around 35 kilometers from the capital at a depth of nearly 150 kilometres
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/undersea_eruptions_near_tonga.html
Guardian video is at……
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/mar/19/tonga-underwater-volcano
A volcano in central Japan erupts, spewing hot rocks and ash into the air, but no major damage was caused in the sparsely populated vicinity
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/02/mount-asama-volcano-erupts-japan
At 10 a.m. on November 13, join millions of people throughout Southern California in the ShakeOut Drill, the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S. history! .The Great Southern California ShakeOut includes the ShakeOut Drill and other events to help us get ready for big earthquakes.
