Anchorage Daily News

Okmok Volcano in the Aleutian Islands quieted some on Sunday, one day after a red-alert was issued and the volcano spit water, debris and gas 25,000 feet into the air.

According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, the eruption of the volcano on Umnak Island had declined somewhat by Sunday morning. Instead of a nearly continuous volcanic tremor, the volcano was erupting about every 10 to 15 minutes, sending an ash plume drifting at about 12,000 feet above sea level.

The volcano, which in 852 miles from Anchorage and began erupting July 12, became more active on Saturday, prompting the Alaska Volcano Observatory to issue the red alert warning pilots in the area to be wary.

The Okmok Volcano spit massive geysers of water, gas and debris 25,000 feet into the air, according to Jennifer Aldeman, an observatory geologist. She said the increased activity of the volcano could be a signal that even more powerful bursts are coming.

The 3,500-foot volcano last erupted in 1997.

Alaska contains more than 130 volcanoes and volcanic fields, which make up three-quarters of the volcanoes in the U.S. that have erupted in the last 200 years.

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