Mt. Gareloi M2.0 from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska erupts

A small, yet measurable earthquake swarm near Gareloi volcano triggered this M2.0 earthquake

The volcano is located in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska

On May 17th, 2023 at 4:53 AM AKDT, a magnitude 2.0 earthquake occurred 2 km below the surface near Mt. Gareloi, a small, unpopulated island in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The earthquake was felt on nearby islands but did not cause any damage or injuries.

The earthquake was part of a small swarm of earthquakes that have been occurring near Gareloi volcano since May 15th. The largest earthquake in the swarm was a magnitude 3.2 that occurred on May 16th. The earthquakes are likely caused by the movement of magma beneath the volcano.

Gareloi volcano is a stratovolcano that is located in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The volcano is about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) high and has a summit crater that is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) wide. Gareloi is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands and has erupted over 20 times in the past 200 years.

The most recent eruption of Gareloi volcano occurred in 2012. The eruption produced a plume of ash that reached an altitude of 10,000 feet and caused minor ashfall on nearby islands. The eruption did not cause any damage or injuries.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) is closely monitoring the activity at Gareloi volcano. The AVO has issued a yellow alert for the volcano, which means that an eruption is possible within the next 24 hours.

If you are planning to travel to the Aleutian Islands, please be aware of the potential for volcanic activity. The AVO website has up-to-date information on the activity at Gareloi volcano and other volcanoes in Alaska.