Volcanic Earthquakes: -

Earthquakes related to volcanic activity may

produce hazards which include ground cracks, ground
deformation, and damage to manmade structures. There
are two general categories of earthquakes that can occur
at a volcano: volcano-tectonic earthquakes and long
period earthquakes.
Earthquakes produced by stress changes in solid
rock due to the injection or withdrawal of magma
(molton rock) are called volcano-tectonic earthquakes
(Chouet, 1993). These earthquakes can cause land to
subside and can produce large ground cracks. These
earthquakes can occur as rock is moving to fill in spaces
where magma is no longer present. Volcano-tectonic
earthquakes don't indicate that the volcano will be
erupting but can occur at anytime.
The second category of volcanic earthquakes are
long period earthquakes which are produced by the
injection of magma into surrounding rock. These
earthquakes are a result of pressure changes during the
unsteady transport of the magma. When magma
injection is sustained a lot of earthquakes are produced
(Chouet, 1993). This type of activity indicates that a
volcano is about to erupt. Scientists use seismographs to
record the signal from these earthquakes. This signal is
known as volcanic tremor.
 People living near an erupting volcano are very
aware of volcanic earthquakes. Their houses will shake
and windows rattle from the numerous earthquakes
that occur each day before and during a volcanic
eruption. Residents in Pompeii felt earthquakes daily
before Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79 but continued to go
about their daily routines (Francis, 1993). When Mount
Pinatubo in the Philipines erupted in 1991, nerves were
rattled as much as windows by volcanic earthquakes.
Earthquakes exhibiting volcanic tremor warn of an
impending eruption so that people can be evacuated to
areas of safety. The volcanic tremor signal has been used
successfully to predict the 1980 eruptions Mount St.
Helens and the 1991 eruption of Pinatubo. Volcano-
tectonic earthquakes can cause damage to manmade
structures and landsliding. To prevent damage from
being done, structures should be built according to
earthquake standards, building foundations should be
constructed on firm ground and not unconsolidated
material which may amplify earthquake intensity, and
buildings should be constructed on stable slopes in areas
of low hazard potential.