Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 Earthquake hits the northern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.6 Earthquake hits the Volcano Islands off Japan.
5.4 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.0 Earthquake hits Pakistan.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific:
Invest 90E is an area of disturbed weather in the East Pacific that has the potential for further tropical development.
Invest 99E is an area of disturbed weather in the East Pacific that has the potential for further tropical development.
In the Western Pacific:
Super Typhoon 25w (Haima), located approximately 325 nm southeast of Hong Kong, is tracking west-northwestward at 15 knots.
Newsbytes:
Philippines – Super Typhoon Haima weakened and blew out to sea Thursday after smashing the northern Philippines with ferocious wind and rain overnight. Flooding, landslides and power outages were evident, but large casualties appeared to have been averted after nearly 100,000 people fled to safer ground. Haima’s blinding winds and rain had rekindled fears of the catastrophe wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, but there were no immediate reports of any major damage. Several villages are cut off by fallen trees, landslides and floods. At least seven people were killed in the storm. Haima, with sustained winds of 225 kilometres (140 miles) per hour, hit northeastern Cagayan province late Wednesday then barrelled northwestward before blowing out into the South China Sea with sustained winds of 150 kilometres (93 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 185 kph (115 mph), according to forecasters. Although weakening, the typhoon was expected to blow toward China, Filipino forecasters said.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease at USA Universities
Hand, foot, and mouth disease has hit the University of Illinois campus. College officials revealed more than 60 cases of the highly contagious rash have afflicted students since the fall semester began. The latest health scare on the Illinois campus came on the heels of a massive mumps outbreak earlier this semester.
Florida State University and a handful of other college campuses scattered about the United States have also been battling cases of the skin rash since the school year began.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease hit rural southern Ohio hard in late July. Children seemed to contract and spread the skin rash when visiting county fairs and street festivals, which occurred back-to-back in Vinton, Athens, Ross, and Jackson Counties. The rash peaked by early August but has now surfaced again in the same region.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Asosan | Kyushu (Japan) | 32.884°N, 131.104°E | Elevation 1592 m
JMA reported that no further explosions were detected after the 7-8 October eruption at Asosan’s Nakadake Crater; white plumes rose as high as 400 m above the crater rim during 11-17 October. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5).
Bulusan | Luzon (Philippines) | 12.77°N, 124.05°E | Elevation 1565 m
PHIVOLCS reported that during 12-16 October the seismic network at Bulusan recorded 2-6 volcanic earthquakes per day. During 12-13 October steam plumes rose as high as 500 m above the active vents and drifted SE and SSE. The network recorded 24 volcanic earthquakes from 16 to 17 October. At 0736 on 17 October a 24-minute-long phreatic explosion at the SE vent generated an ash plume that rose 1 km.
PHIVOLCS noted that while the SE vents are within the 4-km-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) they are part of a fissure that extends 2 km down the upper S flank. Eruptions from this area pose a greater risk to the populated barangays of Mapaso and Patag in Irosin, and San Roque in Bulusan. In response the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) was increased and as of 18 October stretched an additional 2 km past the PDZ. The Alert Level remained at 1, indicating abnormal conditions and a 4-km-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).
Colima | Mexico | 19.514°N, 103.62°W | Elevation 3850 m
Based on webcam and satellite images, and information from Colima Towers, the Washington VAAC reported that ash plumes from Colima rose to altitudes of 5.2-7 km (17,000-23,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 35-215 km W, NW, N, and NE during 11-18 October.
Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) | 54.049°N, 159.443°E | Elevation 1513 m
Based on satellite image analysis, KVERT reported that during 7-8 October gas, steam, and ash plumes rose from Karymsky and drifted 390 km E and SE. A weak thermal anomaly was detected over the volcano on 7 and 12 October. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange. Ulawun | New Britian (Papua New Guinea) | 5.05°S, 151.33°E | Elevation 2334 m
RVO reported that during 1 September-15 October white vapor plumes with varying densities rose from Ulawun, although on 12 October pale gray ash plumes rose from the vent. A report from officers at Hargy Palm Oil dated 13 October stated that a “minor eruption” had occurred after 1800 on 12 October, and that there were a few low noises from the volcano and nighttime glow during 12-13 October. RVO noted that the seismic record did not indicate an eruption.
Seismicity was at a low to moderate level, dominated by small low-frequency volcanic earthquakes. RSAM values increased and by mid-October were at the highest values (peak of 200) so far in 2016. Based on analyses of satellite imagery, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 16-17 October ash plumes rose to an altitude of 2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW and W.
Yasur | Vanuatu | 19.53°S, 169.442°E | Elevation 361 m
On 15 October the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory stated that the Alert Level for Yasur was raised to 3 (on a scale of 0-4), noting that explosions could become more intense. The Alert Level was lowered back to 2 on 18 October. VGO reminded residents and tourists that hazardous areas were near and around the volcanic crater, within a 600-m-radius permanent exclusion zone, and that volcanic ash and gas could reach areas impacted by trade winds.