Off The Record
U.s. City Monitoring Volcano Activity Rattled By Strong Earthquake Near 5.0 Magnitude
Only a few miles from an Alaskan city already on high alert for a potential volcanic eruption, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake occurred.
At 12:03 a.m. local time (4:03 a.m. ET), the Alaska Earthquake Center detected the tremor close to Hope.
Thousands of residents reported feeling mild shaking near the epicenter, which was about 33 miles south of Anchorage.
Mount Spurr, which is roughly 78 miles from Anchorage, is still exhibiting signs of instability, as seen by increased gas emissions and seismic activity.
One resident posted on social media, “I felt it from 45 miles north of Anchorage—first heard the building creak, then came a solid shake followed by a slight rolling motion at the end.”
People in the area have received warnings to “follow local emergency guidance and stay alert for aftershocks.”
In the past eleven days, the South-Central region of Alaska has seen five earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.1 or higher, including the 4.7 magnitude.
This area is situated within the Alaska-Aleutian subduction system, a seismically active zone that poses a serious risk of earthquakes due to the Pacific plate subducting (sinking) beneath the North American plate.
Since the magnitude 4.7 earthquake, at least five more have occurred, according to the US Geological Survey’s website.
However, the earthquakes were mild, with magnitudes ranging from 1.1 to 2.0.
According to a Michigan Tech University evaluation, humans usually do not experience earthquakes of a magnitude of 2.5 or lower.
Although they only cause modest damage, those between 2.5 and 5.4 are frequently felt.
Following the 4.7-magnitude earthquake, there have been no reports of damage or injuries.
Following the earthquake, locals shared their experiences on social media.
“Earthquake! Anyone feel it in Anchorage just now? My apartment was shaking a few seconds. Strange my dogs slept through it,” a user shared on X.
Just a fellow Anchorage local wrote: “Felt that one!”
Josh Studdard shared on X: “We keep having earthquake here in Anchorage, Alaska. Mount Spurr might erupt any day now! Low key can’t wait to see it.”
In an update on the eruption’s status, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) stated on Monday that “frequent small volcanic earthquakes were detected beneath the volcano over the past day.”
But the tremors were too tiny to be found.
The EPA found that “gas emissions are broadly unchanged from March and remain elevated above background levels” during a flyover of Mount Spurr on April 24.
“The volcano remains at an elevated level of unrest and an explosive eruption (or eruptions) like those that occurred in 1953 and 1992 is still possible,” the AVO shared Friday.
Mount Spurr would shoot several ash plumes up to 50,000 feet into the sky if the eruption occurred, according to Matt Haney, the US Geological Survey’s (USGS) scientist-in-charge of the AVO, who spoke to DailyMail.com.
Three to four hours would pass between each ash-producing explosive activity, and the ensuing cloud could cover Anchorage and other surrounding communities with a thick layer of dust.
“The eruption would also produce destructive mudslides and avalanches of volcanic debris racing down the volcano’s side at over 200 miles per hour, ‘but fortunately, there are not any communities in that radius that would be affected,” Haney said.
TikToker Lia, who shared how she and her family are getting ready for the impending eruption, is among the Anchorage residents who are now stockpiling protective gear.
“Mount Spurr is about to erupt, and I want to make sure we are prepared because we have never gone through a volcanic eruption,” she said.
As she demonstrated that she had bought multiple respirators, goggles, and air filters for her car, she clarified that the main worry is the ash that will be blown from the explosion across the city.
Lia explained that in order to keep the ash out, the swim goggles she bought from Amazon had to fit snugly around the head.
As many Anchorage people have done to protect their puppies, she also bought her dog a set of goggles.
Lia did not buy tape because she claimed that her windows and doors “seal up very nice nicely.”
To guard against ashfall and other dangers, other neighbors will, however, wrap duct tape that they have accumulated over door apertures and window sills.
“So now we just wait for it to erupt and see how it goes,” said Lia in the TikTok, explaining that experts are predicting about a quarter-inch of ash to blanket Anchorage.
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