Sangay volcano (Ecuador): lava flow and vulcanian explosions go on

Lava flows on the SE slope detected by the surveillance camera on 1 March (image: IGEPN)

The effusive-explosive eruption of the volcano continues.

The lava continues to spill out onto the SE flank ravine, keeping the flow active and slowly advancing until about halfway to the base of the edifice.

Near-frequent vulcanian eruptions continue to produce ash columns releasing pyroclastic material to approx. 5,8 km (19,000 ft), occasionally up to 7,3 km (24,000 ft) elevation in the western direction. Most of the ejected hot, juvenile and glowing material slid down along the southeastern flank in the form of incandescent avalanches.

Satellite-based measurements of SO2 concentrations were detected in plumes of about 759 tonnes on 1 March.

According to MIROVA Detection System, a high thermal anomaly (115 MW) was detected in satellite images over the past 24 hours.

Source: Instituto Geofísico volcano activity update 3 March 2023

Strong thermal anomaly within the summit crater of Sangay volcano detected on 25 Feb (image: Sentinel-2, SWIR)

Strong thermal anomaly within the summit crater of Sangay volcano detected on 25 Feb (image: Sentinel-2, SWIR)