🌋 The Week in Hazards: Volcano, Storm & Quake Update (8 – 14 November 2025)
Welcome to your weekly review of the Earth’s natural forces, providing a concise summary of significant volcanic, seismic, and tropical storm activity across the globe. We source all data directly from official meteorological and geological agencies, including the USGS and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
🌍 Global Seismic Review
This week, the world’s seismic network, as reported by the USGS, recorded significant activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire, with a notable cluster of events off the coast of Japan. The most significant seismic events of the past seven days were a pair of strong earthquakes that struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. The largest recorded global event this week was a Magnitude 6.8 earthquake, quickly followed by a Magnitude 6.4 quake, both occurring off the coast near Yamada, Honshu, on 9 November 2025 (UTC). Additionally, activity was noted elsewhere, including a Magnitude 5.4 event near Ollagüe, Chile, and a Magnitude 5.3 event in the area of Whites City, New Mexico, USA, also on the 9th of November. The high frequency of quakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater globally continues to highlight the constant, powerful tectonic movement, particularly along the Ring of Fire subduction zones.
🔥 Global Volcanic Watch
As of the latest comprehensive GVP update (data current through 19 September 2025), 44 volcanoes were confirmed to be in a continuing state of eruption. The volcanic watch this week remains focused on the ongoing magma accumulation beneath Iceland and persistent activity at key sites in the Pacific.
The situation on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland remains one of continuous unrest without a visible eruption. Reports from the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) confirm that ground uplift is ongoing beneath Svartsengi due to magma accumulation. However, the rate of magma inflow is now reported to be gradually decreasing. Model calculations suggest that approximately 15 million cubic metres of magma have accumulated beneath the area since the ninth eruption of the Sundhnúkur series concluded in August 2025. The IMO highlights that while the inflow rate is slowing, the timing of the next potential magma intrusion and eruption remains uncertain, with the current hazard assessment remaining unchanged until 25 November 2025. This continuous magmatic saga is a key focus on the Volcoholics YouTube channel.
Elsewhere, the GVP notes persistent explosive activity at Sabancaya in Peru and Fuego in Guatemala, where daily Strombolian explosions continue to generate gas-and-ash plumes, maintaining the high alert status for nearby communities. A notable new explosive event occurred at Sakurajima in Japan on 16 November (just outside this window), with a plume reaching 4,400 metres, serving as a reminder of the Pacific Ring of Fire’s volatility.
🌀 Tropical Storm Outlook
Tropical cyclonic activity is currently concentrated heavily in the Western Pacific basin as the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific enter their quiet phases. Both the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins are currently very quiet, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reporting no active tropical cyclones and tracking no areas of concern. The likelihood of tropical cyclone formation remains low over the next seven days as the official hurricane season nears its end.
In contrast, the Western Pacific remains the most active basin, with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) tracking Tropical Storm Fung-Wong. After transitioning from a powerful typhoon, Fung-Wong moved north-northeastward over the northern South China Sea and either made or was forecast to make landfall near Kaohsiung, Taiwan, as a tropical storm on 12 November. The system previously caused six fatalities and affected nearly 2.4 million people across four regions of the northern Philippines. The humanitarian impact of the previous system, Typhoon Kalmaegi, is also still being felt, with authorities reporting significant casualties and millions of people affected across the Philippines and Vietnam.
