Eruptions continue at Alaska volcano, disrupting flights

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska’s Mount Redoubt continues its volcanic explosions, the latest sending an ash cloud 32,000 feet above sea level. The last eruptions occurred at 12:29 a.m. Friday and 11:47 p.m. Thursday. Peter Cervelli, a geophysicist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory, says Mount Redoubt is seismically active Friday morning. The National Weather Service is warning about possible light ash falls in Anchorage 100 miles to the northeast and farther north in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Alaska Airlines has said it would assess the ash from Mount Redoubt on Friday morning before deciding whether to resume flights at Anchorage. Spokeswoman Bobbie Egan in Seattle says it looks like disruptions will be limited to the state of Alaska. Alaska Airlines suspended all flights in and out of Anchorage on Thursday afternoon because of possible engine damage from dust. Alaska Airlines averages 44 departures from Anchorage every day. The airline is telling travelers to check the status of flights before leaving home at alaskaair.com or (800) 252-7522. Before this recent period, the last time the volcano had erupted was during a four-month period in 1989-90.