Violent Earthquake Swarm Near Alaska’s Mount Spurr

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A series of earthquakes, described as a “violent swarm,” has struck just miles from Mount Spurr, an 11,000-foot volcano located approximately 80 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska, fueling fears of an imminent eruption. The seismic activity, which intensified in recent weeks, has prompted heightened monitoring by scientists and emergency preparedness measures in the region’s largest city, home to nearly 300,000 residents.

According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), at least 55 earthquakes were recorded near Mount Spurr in a single week in April 2025, with seismic unrest continuing into May. One of the strongest tremors, a magnitude 3.1 quake, occurred on Wednesday evening, followed by several smaller quakes on Thursday. The AVO reported that the volcano remains at an advisory alert level with a yellow color code, signaling elevated unrest that could precede an eruption. “Seismicity remains elevated with occasional small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano,” the AVO stated in a recent update.

Mount Spurr, which last erupted in 1992, has shown multiple signs of activity in recent months, including increased seismic events, ground deformation, and elevated gas emissions. A recent photograph captured this month revealed a large plume of steam rising from the volcano, likely caused by magma heating underground water, according to the USGS. Matt Haney, scientist-in-charge at the AVO, warned that an eruption could produce explosive plumes of ash reaching up to 50,000 feet, potentially disrupting air travel and blanketing Anchorage in volcanic ash. “The eruption would most likely occur at the Crater Peak side vent, and it would be explosive,” Haney told the Daily Mail.

The swarm of earthquakes began in April 2024, with the frequency escalating significantly in October, rising from an average of 30 quakes per week to 125. By early May 2025, the USGS detected at least a dozen tremors within a 30-mile radius of the volcano, with some residents reporting feeling the shakes in Anchorage. Josh Studdard, an Anchorage resident, posted on X: “We keep having earthquakes here in Anchorage, Alaska. Mount Spurr might erupt any day now!” While such posts reflect public concern, the AVO cautions that predicting the exact timing of an eruption remains impossible, though scientists estimate it could occur within weeks to months.

The Anchorage Office of Emergency Management has urged residents to prepare for potential disruptions, particularly for summer travel, and to maintain emergency kits. The city raised its emergency planning to Level 2 in March, increasing public communication and readiness protocols. Local stores have reported a surge in demand for N95 masks, water jugs, and protective gear as residents brace for a possible eruption. Fortunately, experts note that destructive mudslides or avalanches, which could race down the volcano at over 200 miles per hour, are unlikely to impact populated areas due to the volcano’s remote location.

While the situation remains precarious, the AVO continues to monitor Mount Spurr closely, analyzing seismic data, gas emissions, and ground deformation for signs of escalation. “An eruption at Mount Spurr is possible in the coming weeks or months, but an exact timeframe is unknown,” the AVO reported. For now, Anchorage residents and scientists alike remain on edge, watching the restless volcano for the next critical signal.

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