Hundreds of thousands of Americans are bracing themselves for the worst as scientists predict a nearby volcano is set to erupt.
There are as many as 169 volcanoes that are deemed as ‘active’ across America’s 50 states, but it is Alaska’s 11,070-ft-high Mount Spurr that looks ready to blow, close to the state’s largest city, Anchorage.
The volcano, which is just under 2,000-ft taller than the Yellowstone supervolcano, can be seen on a clear day by Alaskans living 81 miles away in the coastal city.
A report by the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), the governing body that frequently studies 90 of the estimated 140 volcanoes believed to be situated on the state, found that there had been more than 100 earthquakes taking place underneath Mount Spurr each week between February and March.
While also stating that there had been more than 3,400 earthquakes to have taken place in and around the volcano since April last year.
Matt Haney, the scientist leading the AVO, explained what an eruption could look like while speaking with Alaska Public Media.
“A Spurr eruption similar to those in 1953 and 1992 likely wouldn’t be heard in Anchorage,” the scientist explained. “But if you were near the volcano, you’d definitely hear it—though being that close wouldn’t be safe.”
The scientist added that ash-producing eruptions can generate volcanic lightning within the ash cloud. “This lightning is caused by friction between ash particles and can create thunder, which might be audible from farther away.”
“Most of the time, these eruptions are explosive,” they continued. “They shatter magma and blast ash up to 50,000 feet into the atmosphere.”
Mount Spurr last erupted three times in 1992—in June, August, and September. Prior to that, the last recorded eruption was a single event in 1953.
Haney recalled, “On August 18, 1992—the second of the three eruptions—winds were blowing toward Anchorage. As a result, the ash cloud drifted over the city, and ashfall followed.”
It’s been nearly 43 years since the last major eruption, and if Mount Spurr erupts again, it could blanket Anchorage and surrounding areas in volcanic ash.
Residents living near the volcano have already begun preparing for a potential eruption. Many are stocking up on essentials like face masks, gas masks, protective goggles, latex gloves, and large supplies of water.
According to the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN), volcanic ash can be harmful to health—particularly if inhaled. It poses a serious risk to people with asthma and can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
