Volcano in Tanzania Erupts, Spews Lava
Pastor Dale Morgan
Jul 21, 4:47 PM EDT
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Volcano in Tanzania Erupts, Spews Lava*
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- A volcano in northern Tanzania erupted on Friday,
spewing small amounts of smoke and lava, the government spokesman said.
Mt. Oldonyo Lengai, which is close to the border with Kenya, is believed
to be the source of a series of shallow earthquakes experienced in the
region over the past week, said Alfred Mutua, the Kenyan government
spokesman.
"Scientists believe this (the eruption) has reduced the pressure that
was there, hence the decrease of the tremors," Mutua said in a brief
statement.
The U.S. Geological Survey said that the series of earthquakes
experienced since July 14 are a phenomenon known as "seismic swarm."
The highest magnitude of earthquake recorded so far was 6.0 on the
Richter scale registered on Tuesday, which was felt throughout northern
Tanzania and parts of neighboring Kenya.
The U.S. Geological Survey said that swarm in Tanzania is situated close
to Mt. Oldonyo Lengai.
"Although volcanic eruptions are often preceded and accompanied by
earthquake swarms, most earthquake swarms are not associated with
volcanic eruptions," the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site.