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A massive volcano eruption is reportedly possible as Mount Spurr in Alaska soared to high seismic activity levels amid a recent earthquake surge, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) warned in a report on May 28.
“Earthquake activity beneath Mount Spurr remains elevated,” the report states. “Following a steady decline from late March through April, shallow earthquake activity has increased in the past two weeks to March levels of about 100 events per week.”
The 11,000-foot volcano remains at an "elevated state of unrest," which means an "explosive" eruption" remains possible, though the report claimed that the "likelihood of an eruption continues to gradually decline."
“We’re not out of the woods yet, by any means,” said Matt Haney, a researcher with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, via Alaska Public Media. “There’s still earthquakes happening at Mount Spurr.”
An AVO report on May 29 stated that while “low-level unrest continues, no changes have been observed in the monitoring data to indicate that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption.”
“If an eruption occurred, it would be preceded by additional signals allowing warning,” the report added.
A potential eruption would likely send a spout of ash estimated to reach up to 50,000 feet in the air, resulting in a cloud that would covering neighboring Anchorage, Haney had previously told the Daily Mail.