Increased seismic activity and inflation detected at Awu Volcano prompted Indonesian authorities to elevate the alert level from 2 to 3 on April 16, 2024. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has advised the public to maintain a distance of at least 5 km (3.1 miles) from the crater due to potential explosive eruptions. The last eruption at this volcano took place in 2004 (VEI 2).
New activity/unrest was reported for 8 volcanoes from April 10 to 16, 2024. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 12 volcanoes.
Indonesia’s Ruang volcano in North Sulawesi experienced several violent eruptions on April 16 and 17, 2024, forcing authorities to raise the Alert Level to 4 of 4 and warn nearby residents there is a potential of a tsunami if parts of the volcano collapse into the sea, similarly to what happened in 1871. The last eruptive episode at this volcano was in September 2002 (VEI 4).
Recent extreme weather conditions have led to significant casualties and destruction in Pakistan and Afghanistan, with a combined death toll of 141 as of April 18, 2024. Torrential rains and flash floods have devastated large areas, resulting in extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
A strong earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M6.4 hit Shikoku at 14:14 UTC (23:14 LT) on April 17, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 50 km (31 miles). USGS is reporting M6.3 at a depth of 25.7 km (16 miles).
On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the UAE was struck by an exceptional weather event, with record-breaking rainfall reaching up to 254.8 mm (10 inches) in Al Ain, surpassing the country’s annual average in less than 24 hours. The National Centre of Meteorology (NMC) issued a red alert as the rains caused significant flooding, traffic disruptions, and at least one death in Dubai. This severe weather follows similar impacts in neighboring Oman, where 19 fatalities were reported.
A series of powerful eruptions took place at Ruang volcano in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province starting at 17:08 UTC on April 16, 2024 (01:08 LT, April 17). As a result, the Aviation Color Code was raised to Red, the Alert Level to 3 of 4, and local authorities started evacuating more than 800 people living on the island as a preventive measure. The last eruptive episode at this volcano was in September 2002 (VEI 4).
Many heat records have been shattered in northern Japan with the start of the new week.
Heavy rainfall affecting Tanzania since the beginning of April, caused severe floods and landslides which resulted in at least 58 fatalities and thousands of households affected. The coastal regions of the country have been particularly hard hit, with devastating impacts on both human lives and agriculture.
A massive rock avalanche descended from Piz Scerscen in the Swiss Alps close to the Italy border at approximately 07:00 LT on April 14, 2024. The event, which was recorded by seismic networks, resulted in no reported casualties.
