Scientists Predict Mt. St. Helens to Erupt Soon; Peril Minimized

Scientists issued a “volcano alert” Saturday for Mt. St. Helens, indicating that a new, possibly explosive eruption at the volcano that blew away its peak in 1980 was expected within 48 hours.

However, any eruption was not expected to be dangerous outside the 47,000-acre restricted zone around the mountain in southwestern Washington.

The number of small earthquakes beneath the dome-shaped lava formation in the volcano’s crater continued to increase, including the small low-frequency tremors that have preceded and accompanied underground movement of molten rock in previous eruptions, said Forest Service spokesman Thom Corcoran.

“The dome continues to deform rapidly and deformation patterns now suggest that magma (molten rock) has nearly reached the surface,” according to a joint statement by the U.S. Geological Survey and University of Washington geophysics center.

Between five and 40 small earthquakes an hour were detected at one recording station 200 yards from the dome. Most quakes were below 1 on the Richter scale, but several reached 2 on the scale.

Public viewing areas east of the volcano were not considered in danger from any eruption and remained open, Corcoran said.

Mt. St. Helens came to life for the first time in 123 years in March, 1980. Two months later a massive explosion blew away the top 1,300 feet of the peak, devastated 230 square miles of land to the north and northwest, and left 57 persons dead or missing. Volcanic ash fell over much of the Northwest and an ash cloud drifted around the world.