After 3 days of relative calm since the last lava fountaining episode known as paroxysm at the volcano’s New SE crater, a new one seems to be underway now at the crater:
Accompanied by the typical steep rise of volcanic tremor, indicating magma moving upwards through the volcanic conduits, strombolian activity has been picking up at the summit vent of the New SE crater during the past hours, and now seems to be heading towards lava fountaining. Also, another typical sign for the impending paroxysm, a lava flow is issuing from the eruptive fissure cutting through the cone and flowing towards the eastern base of it. This is likely the mostly degassed older lava from the previous paroxysm left in the upper part of the conduit being pushed out by the rising fresher, and gas-rich magma about to erupt.
This marks the 10th paroxysm in a row in a remarkable series since 16 February. Intervals between individual eruptions have been very regular, ranging between 36 hours to 3.5 days only, and there are no signs that it this series is ending soon.
