As if volcanoes weren’t scary enough, now they create tornadoes.
Well, they’re not quite tornadoes, but they have the same vortices found in tornadoes.
This phenomenon was captured when a pyroclastic flow streamed down Mount Sinabung in Indonesia, high-density mixtures of hot, dry rock fragments and gases.
These flows act more as a fluid than a solid, and can flow kilometres away from the volcanic source. They will destroy nearly everything in their path and can travel faster than 80 km/h, reaching temperatures between 200 C and 700 C.
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The volcano created these tornado-like vortices by heating the air over the water, causing the air to rise. Similar to a tornado, air rushes in to take its place, creating the swirling motion.
On Feb. 1, at least 16 people were killed after the volcano erupted, a day after villagers who had fled earlier had returned home.
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