The Latest: Geologists lower alert level on Alaska volcano

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on eruptions at Alaska’s Bogoslof Volcano (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory has lowered the alert level on an Aleutians Island volcano.

The observatory says Bogoslof (BOH-gohs-lawf) Volcano erupted five times Monday night.

The bursts lasted from 10 to 30 minutes and generated volcanic clouds that rose as high as 25,000 feet.

The clouds dissipated within 30 minutes each time.

The volcano erupted again for six minutes starting at 8:17 a.m. Tuesday but satellite imagery did not detect an ash cloud.

Residents of Unalaska and Dutch Harbor report smelling sulfur from the volcano both days.

With no more activity, the observatory lowered the alert level from “warning” to “watch.”

Geologist say activity at Bogoslof could ramp quickly with short or long-lived explosions.

Bogoslof has erupted periodically since mid-December.

___

9 a.m.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says a volcano in the Aleutian Islands has erupted again.

The observatory says Bogoslof (BOH-gohs-lawf) Volcano erupted for six minutes starting at 8:17 a.m. Tuesday.

Satellite images of an ash cloud were not immediately available and the observatory could not estimate its height.

The eruption followed a series of explosive events at the volcano Monday night and the Aviation Color Code remains at “warning” level.

Ash from Aleutian volcanos is a threat airliners operating between North America and Asia when a cloud rises above 20,000 feet (6,096 metres).

Lower-level winds were expected to push a cloud northwest into the Bering Sea. Higher level winds could push ash southeast into the Gulf of Alaska.

The volcano is 850 miles (1,368 kilometres) southwest of Anchorage.

___

8:20 a.m.

Short eruptions of an Alaska volcano sent up ash clouds in the Aleutian Islands.

The first eruption of Bogoslof (BOH-gohs-lawf) Volcano began at 5:47 p.m. Monday and lasted nine minutes.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory says a series of explosive events followed lasting 10 to 30 minutes.

They emitted volcanic clouds that rose to 25,000 feet (7,620 metres) and dissipated within 30 minutes.

The Aviation Color Code was raised to red or “warning” level.

Ash from Aleutian volcanos is a threat airliners operating between North America and Asia when a cloud rises above 20,000 feet (6,096 metres).

The observatory says the last pulse of activity ended at 8:35 p.m.

Bogoslof has erupted periodically since mid-December.

The observatory says additional explosions producing high-altitude volcanic clouds could occur at any time.