‘Pagan’s volcanic activity escalates’

Residents of Pagan were alarmed with the perceived escalation of volcanic activity on the island, reporting to authorities about the visible gas emissions from the volcano.

Emergency Management Office director Rudolfo Pua said his office has received reports about the gas emissions, prompting him to plan on sending a team to fly over the island to confirm the report.

“Pagan is smoking,” Pua said, quoting residents’ concerns. He said there are about 20 residents on the island.

It was unclear yet if the situation would warrant immediate evacuation. Pua also said he received information that the volcano was relatively calm.

Pagan’s volcano had displayed a powerful eruption in the late 1980’s, spewing out volcanic ash that has pozzolan substances. Pagan has been the subject of talks recently amid a proposed business venture for mining pozzolan, which can be used to manufacture high-grade cement.

The reported volcanic activity on Pagan came about as the CNMI government gathers support from different local sectors and the federal government for the implementation of a hazards assessment and early warning system for the Commonwealth.

Nine volcanoes in the entire Northern Marianas chain of islands are currently active, based on a recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey.

James E. Quick, PhD., a veteran igneous petrologist and program coordinator of the USGS’ Volcano Hazards Program, earlier said assessing the hazards and monitoring the nine active volcanoes in the Northern Marianas would cost about $1.9 million per year for the first three years, $1.2 million in the fourth year, and approximately $500,000 per year after that.

The Volcano Hazards Program currently has no funds for the plan, which would require an appropriation by the U.S. Congress.

Quick said the plan should be implemented as soon as possible, emphasizing the threat brought on by volcanic ashes to aircraft flying over CNMI airspace. There are about 25,000 flights flying over the airspace annually, according to him.

Volcanic ashes form deposit in engines, restrict airflow, and clog fuel nozzles. Minute particles of volcanic ash also contaminate aircraft’s ventilation, lubrication, hydraulic and electronic systems. They cause erosion and pitting of leading edges of windshields and landing lights, as well as erosion of compressor blades.

Meanwhile, the USGS and the EMO reported that seismicity on Anatahan has dramatically decreased to a low level since Monday last week.

“The seismic signals indicate that the frequent individual explosions have ceased. The ash plume is less than a few kilometers long and below 2,000 feet,” the agencies reported yesterday.

Anatahan’s increased activity began in late March this year, after temporarily subsiding months after the big volcanic eruption in May 2003.

It remains off-limits to anyone, except for government-approved scientific missions to the island.

The EMO maintained that volcanic activity on Anatahan could change rapidly, advising aircraft to pass upwind or farther than 30 kilometers downwind from the island. The EMO also advised aircraft to exercise due caution within 30 to 50 kilometers of the island.