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The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Fears US mega volcano eruption could spark travel chaos across the world as experts warn it could explode ‘IN WEEKS'
A MASSIVE Alaskan volcano is on the brink of erupting — and terrified experts warn it could happen within weeks. Mount Spurr, the 11,000-foot behemoth sitting just 80 miles west of Advertisement 5 Mount Spurr vents steam and ash, near Anchorage, Alaska Credit: Getty 5 Experts predict the volcano - pictured here erupting in 1992 - could blow again in just a few weeks Credit: U.S Geological Survey 5 The potential blast, experts say, could unleash global travel chaos and choke a critical cargo route between North America and The 'Most of the earthquakes that are occurring under the volcano are too small to be located.' If it blows, the fallout could ground flights worldwide. Advertisement Read more on volcanoes A massive ash cloud could shoot 50,000 feet into the air, forcing nearby Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) to shut down — sparking a ripple effect across global air travel. 'Mount Spurr has the potential to snare travel and cargo logistics, resulting in disruptions that extend far beyond the Alaskan border,' experts warned. The AVO has been tracking the volcano's increasing activity since April 2024, monitoring telltale signs like shallow quakes, ground deformation, and gas and steam emissions. And they all point to one thing — that magma level is rising. Advertisement Most read in Science Scientist-in-charge Matt Haney told the that if Spurr blows again, the event 'would be explosive,' adding it would likely mimic the volcano's last eruption in 1992. Back then, three blasts rocked Alaska over the summer, with August's eruption shutting down Anchorage's airport for 20 hours and blanketing the city in an eighth of an inch of ash. Tourists evacuated as volcano starts erupting in Iceland hols hotspot & red alert issued as magma builds up Commerce ground to a halt, office buildings shuttered, and $2 million in damages were reported. The ash isn't just a nuisance — it's deadly to aircraft. Its fine particles can shred engines, corrode cockpit windows, damage fuselage, and knock out vital instruments mid-flight. Advertisement 'It is extremely dangerous to fly a plane while a volcanic eruption is occurring nearby,' the AVO warned. ANC is a crucial cog in the global supply chain — the world's fourth-busiest cargo airport, handling over 8,000 freight flights each month. Even minor disruptions can delay shipments, e-commerce, and manufacturing deliveries. A total shutdown would bring it all to a standstill. Advertisement And as one of the top diversion and refuelling spots for polar and Pacific air routes, any closure at ANC or FAI would force passenger flights from Asia, Europe, and North America to divert, triggering delays and chaos across multiple continents. 5 Mount Spurr last erupted in 1992, causing major disruption to Anchorage Credit: Alamy 5 Enormous plumes of smoke engulfed the skies Credit: U.S Geological Survey 'There are no residents living in the 'identified hazard areas for pyroclastic flows and lahars,'' the AVO said. Advertisement But the ashfall could rain on Anchorage and spread across the central US within days — just as it did in 1992. The mountain's warning level was upgraded from green to yellow in October 2024 after a small lake formed in its summit crater. Since then, 'seismic activity remained elevated with numerous small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano,' the AVO reported. Experts say the final red flag will be a volcanic tremor — a constant shaking that lasts minutes to days — signaling magma is on the move. Advertisement That's exactly what happened three weeks before Mount Spurr blew in June 1992. 'Alaska's Mount Spurr is about to erupt. Be ready,' the AVO posted on X. And with the clock ticking, officials are urging residents and air traffic operators alike to brace for a blast that could bring the skies — and global trade — to a grinding halt. How do volcanoes erupt? Volcanoes are formed when a hot liquid like substance called magma breaks through the Earth's crust Once the magma reaches the surface and gushes into the air, this is known as a volcanic eruption Volcanic eruptions can release lava, rocks, dust, volcanic ash and toxic gases into the atmosphere Some eruptions are huge and kill lots of people but other eruptions can be small flows of lava that are easily avoided Volcanoes normally give off warning sides before an eruption occurs, such as tremors or gases, and this gives people nearby time to evacuate
The Sun
30-04-2025
- The Sun
Fears US mega volcano eruption could spark travel chaos across the world as experts warn it could explode ‘IN WEEKS'
A MASSIVE Alaskan volcano is on the brink of erupting — and terrified experts warn it could happen within weeks. Mount Spurr, the 11,000-foot behemoth sitting just 80 miles west of Anchorage, has been rumbling with frequent small earthquakes as scientists fear it's moving closer to an explosive eruption. 5 5 5 The potential blast, experts say, could unleash global travel chaos and choke a critical cargo route between North America and Asia. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said in a chilling update: 'Unrest continues at Mount Spurr.' 'Most of the earthquakes that are occurring under the volcano are too small to be located.' If it blows, the fallout could ground flights worldwide. A massive ash cloud could shoot 50,000 feet into the air, forcing nearby Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) to shut down — sparking a ripple effect across global air travel. 'Mount Spurr has the potential to snare travel and cargo logistics, resulting in disruptions that extend far beyond the Alaskan border,' experts warned. The AVO has been tracking the volcano's increasing activity since April 2024, monitoring telltale signs like shallow quakes, ground deformation, and gas and steam emissions. And they all point to one thing — that magma level is rising. Scientist-in-charge Matt Haney told the Daily Mail that if Spurr blows again, the event 'would be explosive,' adding it would likely mimic the volcano's last eruption in 1992. Back then, three blasts rocked Alaska over the summer, with August's eruption shutting down Anchorage's airport for 20 hours and blanketing the city in an eighth of an inch of ash. Commerce ground to a halt, office buildings shuttered, and $2 million in damages were reported. The ash isn't just a nuisance — it's deadly to aircraft. Its fine particles can shred engines, corrode cockpit windows, damage fuselage, and knock out vital instruments mid-flight. 'It is extremely dangerous to fly a plane while a volcanic eruption is occurring nearby,' the AVO warned. ANC is a crucial cog in the global supply chain — the world's fourth-busiest cargo airport, handling over 8,000 freight flights each month. Even minor disruptions can delay shipments, e-commerce, and manufacturing deliveries. A total shutdown would bring it all to a standstill. And as one of the top diversion and refuelling spots for polar and Pacific air routes, any closure at ANC or FAI would force passenger flights from Asia, Europe, and North America to divert, triggering delays and chaos across multiple continents. 5 5 'There are no residents living in the 'identified hazard areas for pyroclastic flows and lahars,'' the AVO said. But the ashfall could rain on Anchorage and spread across the central US within days — just as it did in 1992. The mountain's warning level was upgraded from green to yellow in October 2024 after a small lake formed in its summit crater. Since then, 'seismic activity remained elevated with numerous small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano,' the AVO reported. Experts say the final red flag will be a volcanic tremor — a constant shaking that lasts minutes to days — signaling magma is on the move. That's exactly what happened three weeks before Mount Spurr blew in June 1992. 'Alaska's Mount Spurr is about to erupt. Be ready,' the AVO posted on X. And with the clock ticking, officials are urging residents and air traffic operators alike to brace for a blast that could bring the skies — and global trade — to a grinding halt.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Terrified experts say US volcano set to erupt will trigger international travel chaos
An Alaskan volcano could blow at any time, and when it does, it will set of a chain reaction that would cause international chaos. Mount Spurr is an 11,000-foot-tall that sits about 80 miles from Alaska 's most densely populated city, Anchorage, which is home to nearly 300,000 residents. City residents are already bracing for a possible eruption, which experts say could happen in a matter of 'weeks to months,' but they won't be the only ones impacted by this explosive event. A massive cloud of ash billowing 50,000 feet into the air would force international hubs such as Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and potentially Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) to shut down. Halting all incoming and departing flights at these airports could have a ripple effect across the country, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations and even disrupting the global supply chain. Hundreds of planes fly over Anchorage and Fairbanks per day, and it's not just passenger flights that would be impacted. ANC is the fourth-busiest cargo airport in the world, with more than 8,000 cargo flights passing through each month. Then last time Mount Spurr erupted in 1992, ANC shut down for 20 hours while the ash cloud hung over Anchorage. It darkened skies in the middle of the day, and ultimately settled an eighth of an inch thick across the city. Now, experts monitoring the volcano's activity warn it could blow again in a matter of 'weeks to months.' In a Tuesday morning update from the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), experts said that unrest continues at Mount Spurr, with 'frequent small volcanic earthquakes' detected beneath the volcano over the past day. 'Most of the earthquakes that are occurring under the volcano are too small to be located. Nothing unusual was observed in cloudy to partly cloudy webcam and satellite views,' the update continued. When Mount Spurr blows, the resulting ash cloud will pose a significant hazard to airplanes because the particles are highly abrasive. Flying through an ash cloud can quickly damage windscreens, fuselage surfaces, compressor fan blades and even kill the plane's engine. Ash particles can also cause critical navigational and operational instruments to fail. All of this means that it is extremely dangerous to fly a plane while a volcanic eruption is occurring nearby. So, all airports in areas affected by the ash cloud will have to shut down. ANC is perfectly positioned to transit freight between Asia and North America, which is why it is a major cargo hub. Even moderate disruptions at this airport can delay freight shipments, e-commerce and manufacturing deliveries. A total shutdown would bring all of this to a screeching halt. As for passenger flights, both ANC and FAI are also critical for polar and Pacific air routes. Flights between North America and Asia, or the US and Europe, sometimes rely on these airports for diversion, refueling or emergency landings. Closing them would force incoming passenger flights to re-route, resulting in longer flight times and congestion at alternate airports. Any departing flights from these airports would be grounded until the ash cloud clears, which could take hours or days depending on how long the eruption lasts. Therefore, Mount Spurr has the potential to snare travel and cargo logistics, resulting in disruptions that extend far beyond the Alaskan border. The last time this volcano erupted was in 1992, when it saw three back-to-back explosive events in July, August and September. During the August eruption, ANC shut down for about 20 hours, impacting commerce and transportation. The Municipality of Anchorage reported nearly $2million in damages, office closures and cleanup costs from the August eruption. No one was killed by these events directly. But two heart attacks, one fatal, from shoveling ashfall were reported in Anchorage. Breathing in ash also poses a health hazards. The tiny particles can work their way deep into the lungs, worsening symptoms for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. If Spurr blows again, the event 'would be explosive,' Matt Haney, scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), previously told adding that it would probably look similar to Mount Spurr's last eruption in 1992. He and his colleagues at the AVO have been monitoring the volcano's heightened activity since April 2024, keeping track of shallow earthquakes, ground deformation, and gas and steam emissions. All of these are signs of an impending eruption. If Mount Spurr's activity continues to ramp up, the next sign of an eruption will be a volcanic tremor, Haney said. This would be different from the brief, shallow earthquakes this volcano has already been experiencing. A volcanic tremor is a longer stretch of ongoing shaking that can persist for minutes to days. It occurs when magma beneath the volcano begins rising toward the surface as the eruption grows imminent. Back in June 1992 — the last time Mount Spurr erupted — volcanic tremors began about three weeks before it finally blew.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Eruption at Alaska's Mount Spurr is likely and scientists say preparations should begin
Scientists are urging people who live in southcentral Alaska to begin preparing for a possible eruption of the Mount Spurr volcano. The Alaska Volcano Observatory said now is a good time for Alaskans to "familiarize themselves with the possible hazards of a Spurr eruption" following last week's announcement that the likelihood of an eruption has increased. "The major hazards to Alaska residents from Spurr would be from ash risk to aviation and possible ashfall," the observatory said in a Wednesday post on X. Ash can hurt the eyes and lungs, damage vehicles and its weight can make it physically demanding to clear up. The observatory cautioned residents to stay indoors and wear a face mask outside if ash is present. The eruption would cause volcanic mudflows and pyroclastic flows, which are hot, high-speed flows of ash, volcanic rocks, and gas. The observatory said the areas immediately surrounding the volcano would be affected by the pyroclastic flows. The volcanic mudflows pose very little risk because there are no communities in that area. Although people do not live in the immediate area surrounding Mount Spurr, it is a tourist destination. Nearby towns include Beluga, Nikiski, Salamatof, Tyonek, and Susitna. Mount Spurr is nearly 80 miles from Anchorage. "Anyone considering a visit to the area around Spurr should be aware of these hazards, keep up to date with Spurr activity by signing up for the Volcano Notification Service, and obey any restrictions that might be put in place by land and emergency managers," the post stated. The observatory said the timing, location and duration of the impacts depend on weather conditions and the size and duration of the eruption. The Alaska Volcano Observatory's website states that eruptions that occurred in 1953 and 1992 were explosive. In the 1953 eruption, a single powerful blast about an hour long created a plume that was 30,000 feet high. About a quarter inch of ash fell on Anchorage, shutting down the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport for two days. In 1992, the volcano's eruption sparked three explosions that occurred in June, August and September. The plume from the first explosion reached 47,500 feet, and the second explosion caused the Anchorage airport to close for 20 hours. This article was originally published on
NBC News
20-03-2025
- NBC News
Eruption at Alaska's Mount Spurr is likely and scientists say preparations should begin
Scientists are urging people who live in southcentral Alaska to begin preparing for a possible eruption of the Mount Spurr volcano. The Alaska Volcano Observatory said now is a good time for Alaskans to "familiarize themselves with the possible hazards of a Spurr eruption" following last week's announcement that the likelihood of an eruption has increased. "The major hazards to Alaska residents from Spurr would be from ash risk to aviation and possible ashfall," the observatory said in a Wednesday post on X. Ash can hurt the eyes and lungs, damage vehicles and its weight can make it physically demanding to clear up. The observatory cautioned residents to stay indoors and wear a face mask outside if ash is present. The eruption would cause volcanic mudflows and pyroclastic flows, which are hot, high-speed flows of ash, volcanic rocks, and gas. The observatory said the areas immediately surrounding the volcano would be affected by the pyroclastic flows. The volcanic mudflows pose very little risk because there are no communities in that area. Although people do not live in the immediate area surrounding Mount Spurr, it is a tourist destination. Nearby towns include Beluga, Nikiski, Salamatof, Tyonek, and Susitna. Mount Spurr is nearly 80 miles from Anchorage. "Anyone considering a visit to the area around Spurr should be aware of these hazards, keep up to date with Spurr activity by signing up for the Volcano Notification Service, and obey any restrictions that might be put in place by land and emergency managers," the post stated. The observatory said the timing, location and duration of the impacts depend on weather conditions and the size and duration of the eruption. The Alaska Volcano Observatory's website states that eruptions that occurred in 1953 and 1992 were explosive. In the 1953 eruption, a single powerful blast about an hour long created a plume that was 30,000 feet high. About a quarter inch of ash fell on Anchorage, shutting down the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport for two days. In 1992, the volcano's eruption sparked three explosions that occurred in June, August and September. The plume from the first explosion reached 47,500 feet, and the second explosion caused the Anchorage airport to close for 20 hours.
