Page "Cerro Negro" Paragraph 28

Three years later, volcanic activity started on May 29, 1995, which marked the beginning of the first phase of this eruption.

Small, phreatic eruptions occurred frequently during this phase, averaging 100-160 explosions per day.

These Strombolian eruptions generated convective ash columns that reached heights of 200 – 1000 meters, and these explosions lasted for a period of 79 days.

A low-energy pyroclastic flow was observed on the northwestern flank on June 2.

After June 6, the number of eruptions decreased gradually at a rate of 30-40 eruptions per day.

By July 19, all volcanic activity ceased for a period of 95 days.

By mid-November, the hiatus ended and the second phase commenced.

Eruptions continued for a period of thirteen days and lasted until December 3, 1995.

During this time, the eruptions were larger, and volcanic bombs and blocks up to two meters in diameter were ejected from Cerro Negro.

Ash columns achieve heights of 2 to 2. 5 meters While the VEI was only measured as a 2, central vent explosions, pyroclastic flows, phreatic explosions, and lava dome extrusion were all characteristic of this eruption period.

New lava filled about 2 / 3 of the 1992 crater, and additional lava flows caused damage to land, extending 1. 5 km north of the north base cone.

Ash falls caused damage to property and farmland, with an average deposit of two millimeters per day in León (~ 20 km from volcano ), but there were no fatalities during the safe evacuation of 6000 people in the surrounding villages.

Overall, the lava flow volume reached 8. 0 x 10 < sup > 6 </ sup > m < sup > 3 </ sup > and the tephra volume peaked at 5. 8 x 10 < sup > 6 </ sup > m < sup > 3 </ sup > during this eruption period, resulting in the addition of about 50 meters of height to the cinder cone.