Ring of Fire Goes Wild: Volcanoes, Quakes, and a Big Aleutian Shake
Picture this: a 40,000‑kilometre belt of bone‑shaking, fire‑breathing excitement hugging the Pacific. That’s the Ring of Fire—world’s hot spot for volcanoes and earthquakes—that’s been throwing a comic‑delicious tantrum in early 2018.
Where the Action Is Happening
- Philippines – a volcanic eruption sent crowds packing.
- Japan – one unlucky soul lost their life amid another fiery outburst.
- Alaska – a massive 7.9‑magnitude tremor rattles the Northwest.
All these incidents are part of the same sizzling ring that swings from Indonesia to the coast of Chile.
Why This Is a Hot Topic Now
Earthquakes in the Ring of Fire are basically a daily feature, but the recent spike has tongues wagging about a potential “upward trend.” The UN’s Disaster Risk Reduction unit even called the ring “active.”
- Toshiyasu Nagao – “The Pacific rim is in a period of activity.”
- Janine Krippner – “It’s normal to have so much activity; the ring doesn’t just sit there doing nothing.”
Are These Events Connected?
Some folks imagine a chain reaction—one volcano stirs up another, and the quakes follow. Experts say, not quite.
Yosuki Aoki – “Volcanic activity at each volcano is not correlated. They cycle through active and inactive periods.”
Krippner – “We’re just seeing more of the normal stuff, media stuff.”
Will the Ring Go Full Storm?
Historically, it’s produced the strongest quake and the biggest eruption on record, but that doesn’t mean the current buzz spells a killer disaster.
- Shinji Toda – “We cannot predict earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Earth science hasn’t reached that stage yet.”
- Nagao – “The volcanic activity in Japan may continue, but the area is relatively quiet for earthquake activity.”
- Alaska’s quake – “Strong quakes are a regular part of the region’s history.”
Bottom line: there’s no domino run‑through, just a lively dance of plates and magma. Keep your sense of awe handy but remember – nature is still pretty unpredictable.
