San Cristobal, Nicaragua
- November 29, 1999
- The San Cristobal Volcano erupted and sent
gas and ash 10,000 feet skyward on 22 November. The volcano had been dormant
for several years. Ash rose to levels of around 10,000 feet (~3 km). Local
communities were covered with volcanic ash.
- A resident near San Cristobal has informed
VolcanoWorld that the volcano began erupting on May 20, 1997. As of May
22, the eruption continues. The eruption follows a period increased earthquake
activity reported by Wilfried Strauch of the Department of Geophysics
at the Instituto Nicaragense de Estudios Territoriales. More than
500 volcanic earthquakes were recorded each day shortly before the eruption.
People living near the volcano had reported a strong smell of sulfur gas
prior to the eruption. The last confirmed eruption of San Cristobal was
in 1977. It lasted less that one day and was moderate in size (VEI=2).
Unconfirmed eruptions were reported in 1985 and 1987.