Experts have warned that Mount St. Helens is recharging. The volcano is responsible for one of the deadliest eruptions in the history of the United States.
The Mount St. Helens, also known as Louwala-Clough, is an active stratovolcano situated in the Skamania County, Washington. The volcano erupted in 1980 which led to damage of 1.1 billion worth of property when ashes deposited in 11 states as five provinces in Canada. Apart from the damage, the eruption also killed at least 57 people.
Now, after a series of tremors observed just beneath the surface of the 2,550-meter tall volcano, experts warned that it is becoming active again. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), there were about 55 minor earthquakes recorded towards the end of April until middle of May, which can also be linked to more than 100 tremors.
Tremors are signs that magma is recharging leading to an explosion. In the case of Mount St. Helens, there is no cause for concern just yet, USGS claims. The agency states there are different reasons why it is unlikely to prompt Mount St. Helens' imminent eruptive activity as it is the same to the ones seen in the past that did not cause any surface activity. But, USGS also noted that the recharging period of the volcano started after the minor eruption in 2008.
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration described the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 as "deadliest and most economically destructive eruptions in the United States history". The 57 deaths are also due to asphyxiation after inhaling hot ashes.
KING 5's Rich Marriott flew to the volcano following the eruption in 1980. He said that the surrounding landscape for nearly 20 miles was scorched because of the blast from the Mount St Helens eruption. The direct blast also destroyed almost everything for a distance of about eight miles.