Ash plumes rise from remote Alaska volcano

Published May 15, 2013

Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska –  Steam and ash clouds are occasionally rising to 20,000 feet from an active Alaska volcano.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says in a release that an ash plume was reported rising from Pavlof Volcano on Tuesday evening at about 15,000 feet. It extended to the northeast about 100 miles before it dissipated.

The observatory says a pilot reported an ash plume about 20,000 feet on Wednesday, extending east-northeast from the volcano, located about 625 miles southwest of Anchorage in the Aleutian Islands.

The nearest community is Cold Bay, and residents reported seeing a glow from the summit Tuesday night. The observatory says photographs show a lava flow is still active down the volcano's northwest flank.

View the original article here

Mexico sets shelters as volcano shakes, spews ash

Published May 12, 2013

Associated Press

MEXICO CITY –  Seismic activity has increased at the Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City, leading authorities to alert towns in two central states and the capital.

Mexico's National Disaster Prevention Center says the white-capped volcano spewed a plume of steam more than a half mile (1 kilometer) into the sky. The volcano shook during Saturday night, sometimes emitting glowing rock over the crater.

The government deployed soldiers and federal police to the area Sunday in the event of a bigger eruption, and officials closed off a seven-square-mile (18-square-kilometer) zone around the cone of the 17,886-foot (5,450-meter) volcano. State authorities prepared shelters.

Popocatepetl has put out small eruptions of ash almost daily since a round of activity began in 1994. The eruptions started strengthening two weeks ago and have increased even more this weekend.

View the original article here