Eruption Warning Escalates for Alaska’s Mount Spurr as 300,000 Residents Brace for Potential Disaster

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — April 25, 2025 — Nearly 300,000 residents in and around Anchorage, Alaska, are on high alert as scientists warn that Mount Spurr, an 11,000-foot stratovolcano located just 81 miles west of the city, is showing signs of an imminent eruption. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has updated its threat level for the volcano, citing increased seismic activity, gas emissions, and visible steam plumes as evidence of rising magma. While the risk of eruption has slightly decreased since March, experts emphasize that the situation remains volatile, prompting widespread preparations across the region.

Mount Spurr, which last erupted in 1992, has been under close scrutiny since April 2024, when seismic activity surged from an average of 30 earthquakes per week to 125. According to the AVO, over 3,400 earthquakes have been recorded beneath the volcano since last year, including recent “swarms” of quakes signaling magma movement. “The increased seismic activity, ground deformation, and gas emissions are all indicators that Mount Spurr is moving closer to an eruption,” said Matt Haney, scientist-in-charge at the AVO, in a statement to Alaska Public Media.

On April 21, webcam images captured plumes of steam billowing from Mount Spurr’s summit crater, a key sign of volcanic unrest, as reported by the Daily Mail. Haney explained that an eruption could produce ash plumes rising up to 50,000 feet, potentially blanketing Anchorage in a layer of volcanic ash. The 1992 eruption, which originated from the volcano’s Crater Peak side vent, covered Anchorage with an eighth of an inch of ash, disrupting air travel and daily life. A similar event today could have significant consequences for the city’s nearly 300,000 residents.

In response, Anchorage residents have launched a stockpiling frenzy, rushing to purchase protective gear such as N95 masks, goggles, and painter’s tape to seal windows and doors. Local stores report shortages of essential supplies, including food, water, and even pet necessities like dog booties and masks. “We’ve pre-sold over 1,000 dog masks,” a local retailer told The Independent, highlighting the extent of community preparations. Emergency plans have been elevated, with officials warning that an eruption could disrupt supply chains and cause delays in deliveries.

The AVO’s latest update, issued earlier this week, noted that while the likelihood of an eruption has slightly decreased, the volcano remains at an elevated alert level. “Seismicity remains elevated with occasional small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano,” the AVO reported. Scientists estimate that any eruption would likely originate from the Crater Peak vent, as the summit crater has not erupted in approximately 5,000 years.

Residents are also drawing on lessons from past eruptions. In 1953 and 1992, Mount Spurr’s eruptions caused significant ashfall but no fatalities in Anchorage. However, experts caution that ash could pose health risks, damage infrastructure, and ground air traffic, as seen during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland, which canceled 50,000 flights across Europe.

As Anchorage braces for the worst, community leaders and scientists urge calm but vigilant preparation. “We’re not saying an eruption is certain, but the signs are concerning enough that we need to be ready,” Haney told the Daily Mail. For now, the city remains on edge, with residents keeping a wary eye on the steaming giant to the west.

Sources:

• Alaska Volcano Observatory updates via Alaska Public Media

• Daily Mail reports on Mount Spurr activity

• The Independent on Anchorage preparations

• Historical context on volcanic impacts from The Independent

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