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Two strong earthquakes jolt Anatahan
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Posted on Sep 04 2004
Two strong earthquakes jolted Anatahan Island earlier this week, the Emergency Management Office said.
The center of both quakes, which measured intensity 5.1 and 5.2 on the Richter scale, was located about 270 kilometers north of the island and had depth of 40-50kms, the EMO said.
The EMO reiterated, however, that volcanic activity on the island remained low since it subsided dramatically on July 26. The EMO said frequent individual volcanic explosions have ceased since that time.
The EMO said ash plume from the volcano has become less than a few kilometers long and below 2,000 feet.
The EMO maintained, though, that volcanic activity could change rapidly and could become dangerous to aircraft flying over CNMI airspace.
The EMO also advised aircraft to exercise due caution within 30 to 50 kilometers of the island. It advised aircraft to pass upwind or farther than 30 kilometers downwind from the island.
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.
