Wolf Volcano Eruption
(IN PHOTO) The Wolf volcano spews smoke and lava on Isabela Island, in this May 25, 2015 handout photograph provided by the Galapagos National Park. A volcano perched atop one of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands erupted in the early hours of Monday, the local authorities said, potentially threatening a unique species of pink iguanas. The roughly 1.7-kilometer (1.1-mile) high Wolf volcano is located on Isabela Island, home to a rich variety of flora and fauna typical of the archipelago that helped inspire Charles Darwin's theory of evolution following his 1835 visit. Reuters

Galapagos Island’s Wolf Volcano in Ecuador may have been erupting since the last week of May, but on Wednesday, the eruption’s lava flow created a spectacular night show as the smoldering pyroclastic material ebbed down from the peak into the ocean. While this was taking place, a dark plume loomed overhead.

The May 25 eruption, however, has not resulted in evacuations because there IS no human population on the side of the volcano where the lava flows. But it is threatening the pink iguana which is endemic to Galapagos. The iguana, along with its flora and fauna, helped inspire Charles Darwin to come up with the theory of evolution after he visited Isabela Island in 1835.

Besides Wolf Volcano, the Sierra Volcano, also located in Isabela Island, exhibited unusual activity in April. Neighbour Chile’s Calbuco Volcano also erupted recently. The two South American nations belong to the Pacific Rim of Fire.

Meanwhile, Indonesia raised on late Tuesday the alert status of Mount Sinabung in Sumatra after the volcano showed a sharp increase in activity. There was a significant increase in the amount of hot ash, smoke and rock that spewed from the volcano since Sunday. Lava is visible in its crater, according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the country’s national disaster management agency.

With the imminent eruption of Sinabung, the agency has evacuated almost 3,000 people from four villages after the threat was raised to the highest possible level on Tuesday. They evacuees were moved to a temporary shelter 13 kilometres from the volcano. Since Sinabung became active in 2013, almost 10,000 Indonesians have been forced to leave their homes.

Sinabung last eruption was in February 2014, which killed 16 people and displaced thousands of residents. It is one of the 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia which is on the Pacific Rim of Fire.

To contact the writer, email: vittoriohernandez@yahoo.com

RELATED STORIES