On July 3, Indonesia’s Mount Soputan, on the Sulawesi island chain, erupted. An ash cloud went 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) high. An evacuation zone of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) was ordered.
This is the second Indonesian volcano to erupt this year. In March, Mount Karangetang, also on the Sulawesi island chain, spewed lava and gas clouds, forcing thousands to evacuate.
Mount Shinmoe has erupted again, June 29. It’s been erupting since January 2011. Another ash cloud has been blasted one kilometer (0.6 miles) into the sky.
Shinmoe is on the island of Kyushu, at the south end of Japan. If you’re a Sean Connery/James Bond fan you can see it in the movie “You Only Live Twice”.
In January 2011, it had its largest eruption since 1959. Then in February it had an even bigger eruption. People were evacuated because heavy rains threatened landslides made of the fresh ash buildup on the mountains. In March another eruption that caused more evacuations. Another eruption in April sent an ash cloud two kilometers (1.2 miles) into the sky. The volcano took a break in May.
Puyehue volcano, in Chile, continues to spew ash. Now several airports in Argentina are shut down, some until July 1.
Puyehue erupted June 4. The last time the volcano erupted was in 1960. Flights to Australia and New Zealand are still being grounded.
Reports say Alaska’s Aleutian Island have been hit by a 7.2 quake and a tsunami warning was issued by the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. The tsunami warning was later canceled.