Alaska’s Redoubt Volcano is erupting explosively for a fifth time since 10:38 p.m. local time Sunday evening (2:38 a.m. Eastern time). Subsequent eruptions occurred at 11:02 p.m., 12:14 a.m., 1:39 a.m. and 4:37 a.m. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Volcano Observatory estimates the initial explosion sent ash up to 50,000 feet in the air. The ash appears to be heading north away from Anchorage. Alaska Airlines has canceled flights, according to the Associated Press.
Redoubt Volcano last erupted over a four-month period from 1989-1990. It began showing signs of unrest earlier this year, and the USGS first warned of a potential eruption in January. The alert level has wavered between yellow and orange since then.
Concern centers mainly on three areas. The first is the ash clouds’ effect on air traffic in the vicinity of the volcano. Aircraft carrying a total of roughly 20,000 passengers fly through the area on any given day. A number of commercial flights have been canceled coming in and out of Anchorage International Airport.
The second area of concern is for people on the ground near the mountain, but most residents know what precautions to take, as experts have been warning of an eruption for some time. In Port Alsworth, where about 100 people live year-round. The abrasive ash is dangerous to breathe and “not good for lungs.” It could pose a problem for the town, if it prevents airplanes from flying into Port Alsworth. Flying is the only way to get to the town. In Anchorage, about 100 miles from the volcano, residents were getting ready for ash and all the masks and filters were sold out in two days.
The third area of concern regards facilities in the area such as he Drift River Oil Terminal, which is described as a “major terminal” for the storage of crude oil. But measures have been taken in anticipation of an eruption, to prevent environmental damage, and “we believe everything is safe there” said the officials.
Experts expect the eruption to follow the same pattern as the last events in 1989 and 1990. That eruption continued for months as the mountain’s lava dome grew then collapsed, raising another ash cloud, said Tom Murray, a scientist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory. “We are continuing to watch the volcano very closely,” he said. “We could have several more phases, such as we’ve seen.”