Undersea Volcano Erupts 90 Miles North of Saipan

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Undersea Volcano Erupts 90 Miles North of Saipan

Last Updated on Monday, 31 May 2010 13:19 Written by Kevin Kerrigan Monday, 31 May 2010 11:30

Guam - The National Weather Service on Guam has issued a public information statement advising that that an undersea volcano has erupted between the islands of Sarigan and Anatahan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Weather Service statement says that on Saturday night about 10:30pm, the residents of Sarigan reported an eruption south of their island. [However that conflicts with a report in the Saipan Tribune which says the eruption occurred Friday at noon.]

Read the Weather Service Statement

The Weather Service reports that the volcano ejected hot water vapor and sent ash up to 40, 000 feet. Satellite images showed that high level clouds and possibly some ash drifted southward across Guam and the CNMI early Sunday.

Meanwhile, the US Geological Survey says that observers on Sarigan reported hearing a loud explosion from the south, and shortly thereafter noticed ash falling around them. They also reported the sound of a wave passing by.

No additional volcanic clouds have been detected and it is unknown if the under-sea volcanic activity is continuing.

The location of the eruption is estimated to be about 90 miles north of the CNMI's most populous island of Saipan. Emergency Management Officials on Saipan says that all 7 residents of Sarigan were evacuated and the 9 residents of Pagan were also evacuated.

The weather service says that as of Monday that cloud had drifted well southwest of Guam and there have been no further plumes sited.
Officials say there is no immediate danger for residents of Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan or the northern islands of the Marianas.

However they will continue to monitor the situation closely and if future conditions warrant, the National Weather Service and the Saipan Emergency Management office will issue statements recommending what actions should be taken.

Read the Saipan Tribune Report

Meanwhile, the Saipan Tribune is reporting that CNMI Governor Benigno Fitial declared a state of disaster emergency in the CNMI following the eruption. Fitial declared the island of Sarigan as unsafe for human habitation and restricted all travel to the island with exception of scientific expeditions.

http://pacificnewscenter.com/index....-volcano-erupts&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156

 

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Re: Undersea Volcano Erupts 90 Miles North of Saipan

7 scientists evacuate Sarigan

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 00:00
By Emmanuel T. Erediano - Reporter


SEVEN scientists from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and the CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife were evacuated from Sarigan after a submarine volcano south of the island erupted at around midnight on Friday.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial issued an emergency declaration restricting travel to the island, except for approved scientific missions.
The U.S. Geological Society placed Sarigan under alert level watch on Sunday.

Yesterday, the seismic activity was low according to Robert McGimsgy, a USGS volcanologist. ?Although the situation could change very quickly,? he added.

There was a short-lived seismic event that happened about three to four minutes in the middle of the night, McGimsgy said in a telephone interview.

The seven scientists from DFW and USFW, who were working on the island, heard a lot of explosions and saw a heavy eruption cloud soaring to the sky, McGimsgy said.

They were evacuated to Saipan on Sunday.

The Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center reported an eruption cloud 40,000 feet high.

The cloud may contain ash but could be largely water vapor and appears to be shrinking as northerly winds carry it toward the CNMI and Guam.

No additional volcanic clouds have been detected and it is unknown if submarine activity is continuing, USGS said.

http://www.mvariety.com/2010053127010/local-news/7-scientists-evacuate-sarigan.php

 

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Re: Undersea Volcano Erupts 90 Miles North of Saipan

Pacific submarine volcano issues 'big burp'

By the CNN Wire Staff<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>cnnAuthor = "By the CNN Wire Staff";</SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if(location.hostname.indexOf( 'edition.' ) > -1) {document.write('June 1, 2010 -- Updated 0117 GMT (0917 HKT)');} else {document.write('May 31, 2010 9:17 p.m. EDT');}</SCRIPT>May 31, 2010 9:17 p.m. EDTJune 1, 2010 -- Updated 0117 GMT (0917 HKT)


(CNN) -- A rapid Pacific submarine volcano eruption has exhaled a steam and ash cloud in the air and left a trail of debris on the surface of the water near Sarigan Island in the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. officials said Monday.

Game McGimsey, a volcanologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, said the vent, lying 1,000 feet under the surface, issued a cloud 40,000 reaching feet in the air.

As a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service evacuated 16 people, mostly its scientists, from the Northern Islands off Saipan following the eruption, reported the Saipan Tribune. The area is U.S. territory.

The current volcano alert level is advisory, and the current aviation color code is yellow, meaning volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.

Satellite images show no sign of ongoing activity, according to a report form the USGS.

Seismographs indicate a rapid and short-lived onset and that the eruption lasted a couple of minutes, McGimsey said.

"It seems to be just one big burp," said Mike Middlebooke, a senior forecaster at the National Weather Service in Guam, about the cloud burst.

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Full text at:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/31/pacific.submarine.volcano/