Toba supervolcano showing large emissions of steam and foul smelling gas


Photo from Indonesia press showing new activity (June 2015) at Mount Sinabung, prompting evacuations around the area.

Western Indonesia's Mount Sinabung has been placed on high alert for what is being called a "mega-eruption" for several km/miles around the volcano.

Video reports coming out from the region show ash, steam, and eruptive blasts currently occurring.

In addition to the large eruption at Mount Sinabung, we now have other reports that the nearby Toba supervolcano is showing large emissions of steam (from the ground), as well as foul smelling gas.

According to reports from Indonesian press, locals are alarmed by these recent developments.

Toba supervolcano is indeed a "super-volcano" by all measurements. Actually LARGER in eruptive power to the other more well known "Yellowstone" super volcano (located in Wyoming / United States).

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Worthy to note, the Toba caldera produced the worlds largest eruption in the past 2 million years, and has not showed eruptive signs in over 75,000 years.
From Oregon state University:

"Toba caldera produced the largest eruption in the last 2 million years. The caldera is 18 x 60 miles (30 by 100 km) and has a total relief of 5,100 feet (1700 m).

The caldera probably formed in stages. Large eruptions occurred 840,000, about 700,000, and 75,000 years ago. The eruption 75,000 years ago produced the Young Toba Tuff. The Young Toba Tuff was erupted from ring fractures that surround most or all of the present-day lake. "


Comparison of volumes produced by some of the greatest volcanic eruptions. The Young Toba Tuff has an estimated volume of 2,800 cubic kilometers (km) and was erupted about 74,000 years ago. The Huckleberry Ridge Tuff, erupted at Yellowstone 2.2 million years ago, has a volume of 2,500 cubic km. The Lava Creek Tuff, erupted at Yellowstone 600,000 years ago, has a volume of 1,000 cubic km. The May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens produced 1 cubic km of ash. Not shown is the Fish Canyon Tuff of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The Fish Canyon Tuff was erupted 27.8 million years ago and has an estimated volume of 3,000 cubic km.

quote volcano discovery:

"About 74,000 years BP, more than 2500 cubic kilometers of magma were erupted. The eruption led to the final formation of one of earths largest calderas, the 35×100 km wide Toba caldera. Eruptions of this size are extremely rare and are called supervolcano-eruptions. T

The Toba caldera is in fact the Earth's largest Quaternary caldera.

It was formed during four major Pleistocene ignimbrite-producing eruptions beginning at 1.2 million years ago and culminating with the colossal Young Toba Tuff (YTT) eruption about 74,000 years ago. The YTT emplaced about 2500-3000 cu km (dense rock equivalent) of ignimbrite and airfall ash from vents at the NW and SE ends of present-day Lake Toba."

Hot steam out of the ground resahkan citizens Toba Samosir

"Villagers Sitoluama, District Laguboti, Toba Samosir, North Sumatra, troubled by unusual events. Ground beside the houses steaming hot and smelling like gas.

Suspected hazardous vapors appear on Wednesday (27/5), exactly in the yard beside the house Purasa, located about ten kilometers from Balige, Toba Samosir regency capital.

"Hot steam and smelling like gas coming out of the pores of the soil it is feared to threaten the safety of people around, so we report them to the government," said one resident, Purasa Silalahi in Sitoluama, Saturday (30/5).

Indeed, continued Purasa, since the last three weeks the temperature around the house is very hot, both day and night. In fact, ceramic floor house feels hot.

Feeling suspicious of these conditions, he intends to dig the ground next to his house and turns as deep as 50 centimeters shaped steam to heat the smoke arose from the pit excavation. Due to fear of the conditions that made excavation, the hole covered immediately returned.

"Steam and smell make us feel fear gas that can be burned, so that the findings are reported directly to the head of the local village," explains Purasa.

Village Head Sitoluama, Moppo Old Pangaribuan said hot steam disturbing residents had been reported to the Department of Environment Toba Samosir.

Admittedly, in the area of ​​research is already been there 20 years ago and there is no sign or marker that in that area there is oil.

"In the past there was a study in this area. But the results until now there is no certainty, and now suddenly appeared in the form of gas. We hope that relevant agencies can re-examining the sake of convenience of the public," said Mappo.

Meanwhile, Head of the Environment Agency Toba Samosir, Parulian Siregar said it was continuing reports of citizens discovery on discovery of disturbing the hot steam.

"We are trying to coordinate with the Department of Mines and Energy of North Sumatra and stakeholders to determine definite vapor source, including handling solutions," said Parulian."

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