Montserrat volcano shoots plume of ash 2 miles into the sky, coats island with dust

October 9th, 2009 Montserrat volcano spews ash, residents wear masksSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Rock falls from a spewing volcano stirred up more volcanic ash Friday on the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, which lost half its population after a devastating eruption last decade. Dozens of small earthquakes accompanied ash plumes that have billowed up 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) this week, prompting officials to distribute masks to residents, said James White Jr., acting director of the Disaster Management Coordination Agency.

September 6th, 2009 Nicaragua's San Cristobal volcano spews ashes, gasMANAGUA, Nicaragua — Nicaragua's San Cristobal volcano has let off a series of explosions, spewing gases and showering ash on nearby towns. There are no reports of injuries or damage.

August 16th, 2009 Tropical storm warning issued for parts of Fla.MIAMI — A tropical storm warning was issued Sunday for parts of Florida as a newly formed depression swirled about 90 miles off the coast. The warning was issued for areas east of the Alabama state line to the Suwanee River.

July 14th, 2009 Alaska terminal near volcano to resume moving oilANCHORAGE, Alaska — An oil pipeline company plans to resume shipments from its terminal near the base of an Alaskan volcano that has sent hot boulders, huge ice chunks and mud flowing toward the terminal on several occasions since becoming active again in March. Delaware-based Cook Inlet Pipeline Co.

July 10th, 2009 Philippines' most active volcano restive againMANILA, Philippines — Scientists say the Philippines' most active volcano is rumbling again while emitting steam and a strong glow at the summit crater that can be seen with the naked eye. State volcanologists say the frequency of volcanic earthquakes has increased on Mayon signifying the possible movement of magma below the surface that could lead to ash explosions and eventually eruption.

July 2nd, 2009 Hawaii volcano glow snuffed out by falling rocksVOLCANO, Hawaii — The bright glow at the summit of Hawaii's Kilauea (KILL'-uh-WAY'-uh) volcano has been snuffed out by a series of large rock falls within its crater. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says the rock falls on Tuesday produced a seismic signal equivalent to a magnitude-2.4 earthquake.

June 30th, 2009 Scientists lower Alaska volcano threat levelANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaskans can put away their dust masks and spare air filters, for now, because Mount Redoubt seems to have cooled off since its last major eruption nearly three months ago. The Alaska Volcano Observatory said Tuesday that seismic activity has slowed under the volcano and it's possible that eruptions have stopped.

June 13th, 2009 Oh rats! Rodent-free Alaska island needs new nameANCHORAGE, Alaska — The rats appear to be gone from Alaska's Rat Island, more than 200 years after they scurried off a rodent-infested Japanese ship. Helicopters dropped rat poison on the island last year in hopes of returning many bird species to the uninhabited island in the Aleutian Chain.

June 9th, 2009 BOGOTA - Thousands of people have been evacuated after a volcano erupted in southwestern Colombia. The Galeras Volcano erupted twice in the past two days.

June 7th, 2009 Scientists eye glowing volcano crater in HawaiiVOLCANO, Hawaii — The summit of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is glowing brightly as molten lava swirls 300 feet below its crater's floor, bubbling near the surface after years of spewing from the volcano's side. The expanding vent of Halemaumau crater helps confirm scientists' belief that the lava is close to the surface of the summit, said Janet Babb, a geologist and spokeswoman for the U.S.

May 9th, 2009 Frogs flown from Montserrat to flee deadly fungusSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Scientists are airlifting dozens of one of the world's largest frogs off of Montserrat island to save them from a deadly fungus devastating their dwindling habitat. The dense forest of this tiny British Caribbean territory is the last remaining stronghold of the critically endangered mountain chicken frog, a 2-pound (0.9 kg), frying pan-size amphibian that got its name because locals say its meat tastes like — you guessed it — chicken.

May 5th, 2009 Scientists: another Mount Redoubt eruption likelyANCHORAGE, Alaska — Geologists in Alaska say the Mount Redoubt volcano may be getting ready to awaken after being relatively quiet for more than a month. Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say activity at the volcano about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage suggests a significant explosive event is likely with days — although that's not certain.

May 4th, 2009 Alaska volcano shows increased unrestANCHORAGE, Alaska — Mount Redoubt showed increased unrest Sunday as the volcano continued to rumble and grumble and produced a substantial ash and steam plume. On Sunday, scientists said there was a marked increase of seismicity at the volcano about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage.

May 1st, 2009 Well-known US poet missing on Japanese islandCHEYENNE, Wyo. — An acclaimed poet who had been working on a book about volcanoes disappeared five days ago during a scouting expedition on a tropical island in southern Japan.

April 24th, 2009 Indonesian volcano spews lava and ash into the skyJAKARTA, Indonesia — Officials say a volcano in central Indonesia is spewing ash and lava hundreds of meters (yards) into the air. But villagers living near Mount Slamet do not appear to be in immediate danger.