Major US city at risk as volcano eruption nears

A major U.S. city is under threat from a potential volcanic eruption after more than 20 earthquakes were recorded in Alaska.

Mount Spurr, which rises to 3,350 meters (around 11,000 feet), is located about 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. City officials have already issued an emergency preparedness plan in the event of an eruption.

Scientists have been closely monitoring seismic activity around the volcano for several months, and some predict that Mount Spurr could erupt in the coming months.

In a recent update, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reported: “Clear web camera views showed an occasional vapor plume at the summit.”

“Although low-level unrest continues, no changes have been observed in the monitoring data to indicate that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption,” the update stated.

If an eruption were to occur, the city of Anchorage could be blanketed in a thick cloud of volcanic ash for several hours. Such a natural disaster would also likely disrupt air traffic, temporarily shutting down both Anchorage and Fairbanks airports.

(QG - Source: The Daily Mail — Picture : © Unsplash)