Volcano eruption sends ash five miles into air

A volcano on an uninhabited Alaskan island erupted early today, spewing an ash plume about five miles into the sky.

The ash from Augustine Volcano was expected to steer clear of Anchorage, the state’s most populous city nearly 200 miles to the north-east, meteorologists said.

Two explosions indicated an eruption at the volcano, said geologist Jennifer Adleman of the Alaska Volcano Observatory.

Satellite images and radar later confirmed the eruption, Hopkins said.

Residents on the Kenai Peninsula, east of the volcanic island, confirmed the eruption and reported seeing ash, Adleman said.

Air service in south-central Alaska, a main source of transportation, had not been disrupted by the ash cloud, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

A weather service flight advisory was issued for pilots for an area 20 miles east and west of the volcano and about 50 miles north.

The cloud, moving at about 20mph, appeared to have low concentrations of ash, Hopkins said.

The few residents in the area were warned to reduce outdoor activity, keep windows and doors closed, and avoid outdoor exercise. They also were warned not to burn wood in stoves or fireplaces if the wood had volcanic ash on it.

The 4,134-foot volcano last erupted in 1986. Ash from a 7-mile-high column drifted over Anchorage and kept flights out of the skies over Cook Inlet.