Santiaguito volcano (Guatemala): actively growing lava dome sheds hot, glowing avalanches

Glowing lava dome accompanied by hot avalanches and degassing at Santiaguito volcano on 20 Dec (image: Landsat 8/9)

Glowing lava dome accompanied by hot avalanches and degassing at Santiaguito volcano on 20 Dec (image: Landsat 8/9)

The activity of the volcano continues at high levels.

A visible glow and near-constant emissions of gas and water vapor (so-called degassing) hint continued rise of fresh viscous magma accumulating into the Caliente lava dome. Pilled lava material makes the dome partially prone to collapse which in turn develop into rolling hot avalanches and incandescent dome blocks in W-SW direction along a steep ravine.

People are advised to avoid the sticky lava flow due to the strong heat which may cause burns and other serious injuries. The current hazards are also hot avalanches that can become mobilized into hot glowing currents (pyroclastic flows).

Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología volcano activity update 23 December 2022