Filmmaker Captures Rare Footage Of Lightning Generated By Volcanic Eruption

By Mark Hodge @mrhodgey

A VOLCANO shoots huge plumes of dark ash cloud into the air - creating dramatic bolts of lightning

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Videographer / Director: Marc Szeglat
Producer: Mak Hodge, Nick Johnson
Editor: Joshua Douglas

Up in the air: Marc captures a stunning shot showing the colossal power of the volcano

This awe-inspiring footage was filmed by German filmmaker Marc Szeglat, 48, and shows the tempestuous Colima volcano in Mexico angrily erupting.

The volcano is one of the most active in Central America and is located over 30km away from the city of Colima in the west of the country.

The volcano erupts against the backdrop of a beautiful night sky

Shot in October and November last year, the footage shows volcanic lighting occurring within the black clouds - a phenomena which is common in larger eruptions but rarely seen in smaller bursts.

Explorer Marc, who has been filming volcanos for 20 years, explained the science behind the lightning.

An extraordinary shot of the magnificent volcano while it erupts spouting huge plumes of ash into the air

He said: “The lightning occurs when friction of ash grains creates an electrical voltage field that discharges in the flashes.

“Another factor could be the grain size of the volcanic ash - the finer the ashes, the greater the potential flash.”

A picture of the damage to the local area following Hurricane Patricia which created a volcanic mud slide known as lahars

And the Oberhausen-born adventurer spoke about the danger to the areas which surround the volcano.

He said: “The volcano can generate pyroclastic flows - these are hot clouds, a mixture of volcanic ashes, blocks and hot gases, which run down the slopes of the volcano and burn everything.

Overblown: Volcano Colima is one of the most active in Central America

“There are a lot of farms and small villages around the volcano - most villages are simple, but there are some tourist areas.

“Another threat are lahars which is a kind of mud flow generated during heavy rainfalls when water mixes with volcanic ash and huge rocks and flows through the valleys.