Three large dangerous volcanoes have woken up in recent days

Of the volcanic eruptionsvolcanic eruptions, it happens every day on Earth, whether at the bottom of the oceans or on the continents. Eruptions more or less important, more or less impressive and more or less dangerous. But in the last few days it’s been three volcanoesvolcanoes major and emblematic who have decided to wake up, in three very distinct places on the globe.

Etna, him again!

I’EtnaEtna in the first place. This is not really a surprise for this volcano, rightly considered the most active in Europe and one of the most active in the world. Located in Sicily, it is indeed in a phase of activity which is manifested by eruptions almost every year. The inhabitants of the region have therefore long since learned to live with its mood swings! Started this Sunday, May 21, the new eruption, however, caused some hassle for the authorities, forced to close Catania airport due to the rain of thick ash that fell on the city. Etna is an effusive volcano of the Strombolian type. It produces rather fluid lava and is regularly shaken by explosions. It is however not considered a very dangerous volcano.

The dangerous and unpredictable Merapi

This is not the case with Merapi, located on the island of JavaJava in Indonesia. Because, if it too is part of the club of the most active volcanoes in the world, its eruptions very often prove to be more deadly for the population. It is indeed a “gray” volcano. Its activity is constantly fed by the magmamagma produced by the subductionsubduction of the Australian plate under the Sunda plate. This volcano is thus part of the belt of firebelt of fire of the Pacific. Its lavas are viscous, rich in silica and have difficulty flowing out of the crater. In fact, the Merapi is subject to intense explosive activity. These brutal and violent eruptions can cause fiery clouds as well as huge ash plumes. Demonstrations which, throughout history, have already caused thousands of deaths. Each awakening of the Merapi is therefore particularly feared and dreaded. The latest occurred this Tuesday, May 23, with force outpouringoutpouring of lava and ash clouds. If for the moment its violence seems contained, the authorities remain on their guard, ready to evacuate the nearest inhabited areas.

The Popocatepetl, an ash-spitting giant

A state of alert already experienced by Mexicans living near Popocatepetl. Since last Friday, May 19, this giant of more than 5,400 meters above sea level located just 70 kilometers from Mexico City has been violently agitated: lava flows, fumaroles, plumes of ash and gas… Even if these demonstrations do not do not pose an immediate danger, they have led to the closure of the capital’s two airports. The ash fallout also forced the inhabitants to take out their masks, respiratory infections being the main risk for the populations. The Popocatepetl is indeed marked by a mainly explosive activity producing large plumes of ash which then cover the entire region, forcing the inhabitants to evacuate. Experts who closely follow the evolution of volcanic activity, however, believe that things should calm down in the coming days.

Need we remind you, this intense volcanic activity of the last few days is in no way abnormal. This is just a timing coincidence, these eruptions having no connection with each other. The three volcanoes are indeed located on tectonic platestectonic plates totally different and obey different magmatic dynamics.