Residents of Anchorage, Alaska are bracing for the eruption of Mount Spurr by loading up on supplies and gas masks. Source: US Geological Survey
Alaska’s largest city is on edge as a volcanic eruption is expected within weeks.
Mount Spurr, standing 11,000 feet tall and located just 81 miles from Anchorage, which is home to nearly 300,000 people, is showing signs of an imminent eruption that could blanket the city in a massive ash cloud, according to scientists.
Matt Haney, the scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), informed DailyMail that the eruption is expected to be “explosive,” with ash plumes reaching altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. Each eruption could last for three to four hours, trapping Anchorage and nearby areas in thick clouds of ash.
On March 20, Anchorage officials elevated the emergency planning level to Level 2, signaling a heightened focus on public communication and response preparation for the eruption.
In addition, the city issued pet safety guidelines, advising owners to keep animals indoors, stock up on two weeks’ worth of supplies, and clean any ash off pets’ fur if they venture outside.
As the eruption nears, residents are preparing by stocking up on N95 masks, gloves, water, and protective gear, including goggles, gas masks, and even booties for their dogs.
TikTok user Angela Łot’oydaatlno Gonzalez shared her preparations in a video, stating, “We’re getting ready for the volcanic eruption,” as she sat with her dogs, both of whom were outfitted with goggles. “They’re not happy with the goggles. Next, we’ll get them ear protection and something to cover their bodies,” she added with a laugh.
Anchorage residents Alliana Salanguit and Jesslin Wooliver shared with NPR that they quickly purchased protective gear for their dog after scientists warned that Mount Spurr could erupt.
Salanguit recalled, “I searched ‘pink, dog goggles, small,’ and it was the top result. Aren’t they darling?”
At AK Bark, a local pet store in Anchorage, owner Mark Robokoff told NPR that he sold over 500 pairs of dog goggles in March alone. He also mentioned that a shipment of dog respirators was on its way, with 1,800 units already pre-sold.
Mount Spurr has been showing increasing signs of an imminent eruption over the past year, including heightened seismic activity, ground displacement, and gas emissions. Seismic activity has surged significantly since April 2024, with quakes jumping from 30 to 125 per week by October.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has confirmed that seismic activity at Mount Spurr remains elevated, with small volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano.
In a Tuesday update, experts at the AVO stated: “Unrest continues at Mount Spurr volcano. Seismicity remains elevated with occasional small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano over the past day. AVO continues monitoring activity at Mount Spurr for signals indicating that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption.”
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has also reported hundreds of tremors in the region, including a significant magnitude 3.7 quake near Petersville on April 2.
The ongoing seismic activity and gas emissions at Mount Spurr suggest that an eruption could be imminent, possibly within weeks or months. Although the volcano’s summit crater hasn’t erupted in 5,000 years, its side vent, Crater Peak, last erupted 30 years ago.
If an eruption occurs, it could resemble the 1992 eruption, which blanketed Anchorage in ash and caused significant disruptions. The recent emissions and tremors have experts on high alert, and if the activity persists, a volcanic tremor could signal the next phase of eruption.
