Sinabung: pyroclastic flows with twister and volcanic lightning

Published 2014-02-01
Pyroclastic flows on the volcano Sinabung. This volcano is located on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
In mid-January 2014, I filmed the pyrocalstic flows and observed twisters (tornados) which occured after pyroclastic flows running down the slope. During night time volcanic lightning was visible in the ash clouds. At the base of pyroclastic flows glowed fine volcanic ash. The videos illustrate why pyroclastic flows are also called glowing clouds.

Volcano Sinabung woke up in the summer of 2013 with a series of explosions. A lava dome began to grow and pyroclastic flows forced the evacuation of more than 20,000 residents. On 1st February 2014, a large pyroclastic flow arose. At least 16 people were killed. 50 people went missing, 3 were seriously injured.

At the volcano Merapi, I filmed the destructive power of pyroclastic flows. Entire villages were destroyed and many people and animals were killed. You will find the shots here:    • Pyroclastic flow killed a cow at Merapi  

Background:
Gunung Sinabung is a Pleistocene stratovolcano in the Karo plateau of Karo Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. It lies 25 miles from Lake Toba supervolcano. Many old lava flows are on its flanks and the last known eruption, before recent times, occurred in the year 1600. Solfataric activities were last observed at the summit in 1912. The volcano awoke with an eruption in the early hours of 29 August 2010 and eruptions in September and November 2013, January, February and October 2014. (source Wikipedia / USGS)

Learn more about the volcano Sinabung: www.vulkane.net/english/volcanoes/sinabung/sinabun…