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10-03-2004, 07:59 PM
Mount St Helens volcano in Washington state is likely to erupt again very soon, scientists have warned.
The threat level has been raised to "volcano alert" - the highest eruption risk level indicating there is a risk to life and property in the area.
On Saturday, hundreds of visitors were evacuated from the Johnston Ridge Observatory, five miles (8km) away.
The volcano erupted on Friday for the first time since 1986. In 1980, a much stronger eruption killed 57 people.
"An eruption could happen right now, in a few days or a few weeks," Catherine Puckett, a spokeswoman for the US Geological Survey (USGS) in Seattle, said.
Federal authorities are evacuating everyone from a five-mile radius around the mountain.
Another USGS geologist, Tom Pierson, said the volcano had released more energy in the last week than at any time since the tragic 1980 eruption.
But scientists have reassured the public that the imminent blast will be much less powerful.
Tourist magnet
The closest community to Mount St Helens is 30 miles away.
On Friday, the volcano spewed a plume of steam and ash several thousands of feet into the sky.
A tremor signal picked up throughout western Washington and into central Oregon on Saturday prompted the heightened alert level.
It lasted about an hour and was followed by a series of small quakes.
Scientists believe new magma is entering the volcano's upper levels, and that volatile gases it carries with it could lead to eruptions.
The eruption is likely to attract scores of tourists in search of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"We wouldn't miss something like this - it's so close," said Martin Stoc, from Vancouver, who was at the observatory with his family before the evacuation.
When Mount St Helens erupted on 18 May 1980, the upper third of the mountain was blown off.
Gray ash buried towns and cities across the Pacific Northwest, and forests and meadows were devastated.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3710868.stm
The threat level has been raised to "volcano alert" - the highest eruption risk level indicating there is a risk to life and property in the area.
On Saturday, hundreds of visitors were evacuated from the Johnston Ridge Observatory, five miles (8km) away.
The volcano erupted on Friday for the first time since 1986. In 1980, a much stronger eruption killed 57 people.
"An eruption could happen right now, in a few days or a few weeks," Catherine Puckett, a spokeswoman for the US Geological Survey (USGS) in Seattle, said.
Federal authorities are evacuating everyone from a five-mile radius around the mountain.
Another USGS geologist, Tom Pierson, said the volcano had released more energy in the last week than at any time since the tragic 1980 eruption.
But scientists have reassured the public that the imminent blast will be much less powerful.
Tourist magnet
The closest community to Mount St Helens is 30 miles away.
On Friday, the volcano spewed a plume of steam and ash several thousands of feet into the sky.
A tremor signal picked up throughout western Washington and into central Oregon on Saturday prompted the heightened alert level.
It lasted about an hour and was followed by a series of small quakes.
Scientists believe new magma is entering the volcano's upper levels, and that volatile gases it carries with it could lead to eruptions.
The eruption is likely to attract scores of tourists in search of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"We wouldn't miss something like this - it's so close," said Martin Stoc, from Vancouver, who was at the observatory with his family before the evacuation.
When Mount St Helens erupted on 18 May 1980, the upper third of the mountain was blown off.
Gray ash buried towns and cities across the Pacific Northwest, and forests and meadows were devastated.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3710868.stm