In the early hours of Wednesday morning (GMT), Alaska’s Great Sitkin volcano erupted, prompting the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) to set the volcano alert level to warning. The authority has also raised the aviation colour code to red.
An AVO and US Geological Survey (USGS) volcanic activity notice read: “A short-duration (1-2 minutes) explosive eruption began at 21:04 AKDT (5:04 UTC 26 May), resulting in an ash cloud up to 15,000 ft asl.
“Since that explosion, seismicity has decreased and satellite images show that the ash cloud has detached from the vent and is moving towards the east.
“Additional explosions are possible and the Aviation Color Code remains at RED and the Volcano Alert Level at WARNING.”
According to the AVO, Great Sitkin erupted at least three times in the 20th century, with the most recent eruption taking place in 1974.
While this week’s eruption propelled ash 15,000 feet into the sky, the 1974 eruption “produced at least one ash cloud that likely exceeded an altitude of 25,000 ft above sea level”.
The Great Sitkin Island occupies most of the northern half of Great Sitkin Island.
Great Sitkin Island is situated in the Andreanof Islands group in the central Aleutian Islands.
According to the AVO, the volcano is located 43km (26 miles) east of the community of Adak.
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