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Volcanic ash, haze alert lifted
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Posted on Jan 29 2005
The volcanic ash and haze alert issued on Thursday was lifted yesterday due to a change in wind direction, according to the Emergency Management Office.
The alert was canceled at approximately 4pm yesterday after EMO indicated that because of the change in wind direction, there is no threat of suspended volcanic dust and sulfur from the volcano on Anatahan.
The volcanic ash and haze advisory was issued Thursday after EMO notified the Department of Public Health of change in wind direction that would carry emitted ash from the volcano over Saipan and Tinian.
Residents, especially those with respiratory problems, were advised to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure and to protect their water supply. Volcanic smog poses a health hazard by aggravating preexisting respiratory ailments.
Meanwhile, volcanic activity on Anatahan continues, with intensified explosions occurring about 15 to 20 seconds apart, according to a joint report from EMO and the U.S. Geological Survey.
After about three days of steady eruptions, activity rose abruptly, beginning at about 10am Wednesday. The seismicity peaked at about 1pm, intensifying by about 20 percent above the previous high before leveling with moderate explosions every five to 10 seconds.
On Thursday, the seismicity level dropped and ceased at about 4:30am for about an hour and a half before resuming with larger explosions but at a less frequent intervals.
“This suggests that the current eruption is slowly running out of magmatic gas,” EMO and USGS said.
The third historical eruption of Anatahan began on Jan. 5 preceded by two days of small long-period earthquakes and a day of harmonic tremor.
Anatahan, an uninhabited island 120 miles north of Saipan, remains off limits until further notice.
