America’s most dangerous volcano enters 72-hour tremor phase, eruption warning raised
US’ Mount Rainier has unprecedentedly entered a 72-hour long and extreme tremor phase, raising the eruption warning and putting millions lives at stake.
The mountain is considered as one of America’s deadliest volcanoes due to its close proximity to populated areas and major cities, including Tacoma, Seattle, and Yakima in Washington and Oregon, the most populous city of Portland.
Since Saturday, Mount Rainier has been rumbling with constant vibrations beneath the surface. Such an extreme tremor phase was observed by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN).
The seismometers on the mountain have recorded 72-hours non-stop and high-energy seismic signals across the west flank of the volcano.
These seismic patterns go against major earthquakes, looking more like a volcanic tremor that starts with the circulation of hot water, magma, and gases inside a volcano.
Despite that, such tremors could morph into a deadly eruption. Therefore, geologists have constantly been observing the signs of eruption, including severity in the coming days.
In the case of an explosion of the volcano, millions of lives will be threatened due to lahars, acting as violent and fast-moving mudflows that can wipe out entire communities within minutes.
According to the US Geological Survey, massive lahars can crush, bury, and carry away almost anything in their paths.
The recent volcanic tremor episode has been one of the longest ones at Mount Rainier in recent years.
