An Alaska volcano spewing ash and lava since Mid-May erupted with new intensity on Tuesday, releasing a plume of cinders 5 miles into the air.
The eruptions from Pavlof Volcano, on the Alaska Peninsula 590 miles southwest of Anchorage, were its most powerful since it began with low-level rumblings six weeks ago, according to scientists at the federal-state Alaska Volcano Observatory.
While the ash plume has so far remained too low in the sky to affect jetliner traffic smaller planes had to fly around it, PenAir, a local airline company based in Anchorage, canceled one flight and rerouted others to avoid the ash plume, Reuters reported.
"For some reason we can't explain, it picked up in intensity and vigor," said Tina Neal, an observatory geologist.
Ash has dusted King Cove, a town of about 900 people located 30 miles southwest of Pavlof, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported.
In addition, an ash advisory was issued for the region, warning of breathing problems for people with respiratory ailments and potential damage to exposed electronic equipment.
A second Alaska Peninsula volcano continued a low-intensity eruption, the observatory said. Ash from Veniaminof Volcano, 485 miles southwest of Anchorage, has been limited to the area around its 8,225-foot summit, the observatory said.
Plus, a third remote Alaska volcano remained restless but was not currently spouting lava or ash, the observatory said.
Cleveland Volcano, 940 miles southwest of Anchorage, began an on-and-off eruptive phase in mid-2011, but has not produced an explosive eruption since May 6, according to the observatoryThe Alaska Volcano Observatory.
"Any time you have a volcano going off, you always have an issue. We've been watching it since it went off the last time." ACE Air Cargo's sales director said.