US warns ash from South Pacific volcano could hinder aviation

WASHINGTON (AFP) Apr 16, 2004
The US Geological Survey warned Thursday that ash from a freshly active volcano in the Northern Mariana Islands in the South Pacific could pose a serious threat to aviation.

The USGS said it had alerted the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Washington state to "a swarm of seismic activity heralding renewed eruptive activity at Anatahan Volcano in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

"The current round of seismic activity peaked on April 6 with approximately one small earthquake each minute and was similar in nature to that observed at other volcanoes before they erupted," said the USGS.

"Earthquakes are still occurring frequently, and steam and ash emissions and small explosions are likely to occur," throwing up clouds "that could be hazardous to aircraft."

The Northern Marianas are located 2,100 miles (3,800 km) east of Manila and 1,600 miles (2,600 km) south of Tokyo.

TERRA.WIRE