Ecuadoran Volcano Update: El Reventador Producing Lava Flows and Ash Fall, Tungurahua Settles Down

A webcam image of a small explosion from El Reventador from November 2012. The revived activity is a continuation of the lava flows and dome growth at the Ecuadoran volcano. Image: IG-EPN. Two of Ecuador's most active volcanoes, Tunagurahua and El Reventador, seem to be headed in different directions. At El Reventador, a new ~2 km/ 6,500 foot steam-and-ash plume along with lava flows were noted this week, along with lava fountains at the summit. People living near the volcano noticed incandescence at the volcano's summit, along with dusting of ash on the flanks of the volcano. This revived lava flow activity started last fall, but had quieted for the last few months until this new activity. The increased seismicity likely means magma is moving within the magmatic system beneath the volcano, so the likelihood of the eruption continuing is high. Larger eruptions of El Reventador, including a VEI 4 ...