Alaska volcano Mount Redoubt erupts 3 times

[March 23, 2009]  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Alaska's Mount Redoubt volcano has begun erupting.

Geologists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say the volcano erupted three times late Sunday and early Monday, with the largest eruption sending a plume of smoke some 50,000 feet above sea level.

Mount Redoubt is roughly 100 miles southwest of Anchorage.

Geophysicist John Power says "this is a fairly large eruption, close to the larger cities in Alaska."

He says no cities have yet reported any ash fall from the volcano, but noted that it's still early.

Geologists say seismic activity around the volcano had been intense in recent days, and expected that the volcano would blow soon.

Power says Mount Redoubt last erupted nearly 20 years ago.

[Associated Press]

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